How to Cure the 5 Types of Depression

The most effective way to cure depression is to know exactly what type of depression a patient has because there are about 5 types. They are:

Major Depression Manic Depression (Also known as Bipolar Disorder) Dysthymia Postpartum Depression Seasonal Affective Disorder

Major depression has symptoms that are severe enough to last six months or longer if left untreated. If left untreated, it can have a major impact on the life of the sufferer.

Manic Depression also known as bipolar disorder can cause a sufferer to experience extremes that can range between a prolonged period of intense hyperactivity and devastating lows of inactivity.

Dysthymia is not as bad as major depression but it does have symptoms that can make it difficult for a sufferer to function normally.

Postpartum Depression is a debilitating emotional condition that affects many mothers after they give birth. It is a type of depression that is caused due to the lack of sunlight during autumn and winter. Sufferer normally feels better by spring and summer.

All the 5 types can be cured and many sufferers have overcome then, even major depression. Remember that any type of medical approach to depression has to depend on what type of depression a person is suffering from.

One example is if a person has a seasonal affective disorder, obviously then, the approach to curing that will be different to how to cure major depression. If a person does have seasonal affective disorder, it may simply require that the person get more exercise and remain outdoor for a little while longer than normal.

But whatever the case, you can overcome depression and get your life back.

How to Cope With Manic Depression

Coping with manic depression, otherwise known as bi-polar disorder, can be a real challenge for the individual suffering with the disease. It is difficult for the person suffering with it, and on those around them. Knowing that your condition has serious effects upon those you love can even serve to aggravate the conditions. Knowing what to expect from your illness and planning out methods of coping with the symptoms goes a long way in alleviating the stress and anxiety of this serious illness.

Step One: Know that it is a disease. Manic depression is not a personal deficiency. It is not something you choose to have. You are not feeling sorry for yourself. You are not over-acting. You have a real illness. Do not let what others may think influence how you feel about yourself, and treat yourself. Most of what those who have not dealt with mental disorders know about the facts are full of misinformation. While you may not be able to educate everyone, focus on dealing with those closest to you as they learn about what bi-polar illness is, and how to effectively help you deal with the illness.

Step Two: Learn to keep stress to a minimum. Stress is a huge factor in triggering manic depressive attacks. You may feel like your body has betrayed you after being diagnosed with manic depression. Do not allow the feelings of betrayal to overwhelm you. It is okay to feel upset about the fact that your world has been turned upside down. That's natural for anyone. Recognize the need for anger and grief and let them have their place, but don't focus on them. Instead, focus on all of the positive things that you can do to make your life fuller and happier. Knowing what the problem is can be half the battle.

Step Three: Keep accurate track of your medications. Your prescribed medicines will help you control the hold that manic depression has on your life. In order to be able to live your life to the fullest you need to have those emotional highs and lows under complete control. Your medicines are your lifeline. Make a chart with what medicines to take when on it, and follow it religiously.

Step Four: Keep a plan of action. Just like your medicine chart, a plan of action for daily needs is a great way to be sure you do not lose track of the things you need to do. Make extensive to do lists and follow them. Set each item on the list as a small goal. If there are larger items that need to be accomplished break them up into smaller individual goals to get there. That will keep you from feeling too overwhelmed by large tasks. Completing each item will give you a sense of accomplishment, and finalizing your day will make you feel wonderful and independent.

Step Five: Keep a diary. Talking about your problems to friends and family is a great way to alleviate the feelings of lonliness and stress of a mental disorder. Another important way to deal with your illness is to keep a diary. Write in it every day. The good and the bad. That way when you are feeling really upset, or emotional, you can look back and see what made you feel that way before and how you coped with it, or what made you happy on good days and how you can get out of the bad areas this time.

Keeping a diary can also help to show you if you are making improvements and the bad days are less than the good ones. It can also alert you to trouble if the bad days are beginning to catch up to the good ones in number. Most of all, keeping a diary just helps in allowing you to talk it out with yourself.

You can live a wonderful, happy, and productive live while dealing with bi-polar disorder. Your friends and your family will be with you on your journey and you can be independent and enjoy the world again with just a little planning.

PMDD and Bipolar Disorder - Are They Linked?

If you know anything about PMDD you will know that it comes with some extreme moods and extreme changes in moods which puts many people thinking about bipolar disorder. Some PMDD sufferers may even think they might have bipolar disorder which is a scary thought as well. But do PMDD and bipolar disorder have any real proven links or is it just a few similarities that make these conditions seem like they could have links?

What is Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a condition which is also known as manic depressive because the highs and lows a person feels with this disorder is on the extreme ends. For a time they can be extremely depressed, low, and even suicidal. However, they can very quickly change to a state of extreme highs which is the manic state. They can go with very little sleep for many days and seem full of energy and ideas. This is almost as bad sometimes because it wears them and everyone else out and they take more risks and do not have a balanced life during any phase.

What is PMDD

PMDD or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder is a disorder that effects your moods as well, but also many other psychological and physical symptoms. With PMDD the mood regulators in the brain are not working as they should, but this only happens during the last week of your menstrual cycle when your hormones are completely out of balance. This can lead to depression and anger and anxiety. It can also make you sleep less, or more, and change your appetite and many other things. This stops very soon after you start to bleed however.

As you can see the conditions only really intersect with the low moods. Bipolar has no exact trigger for changing these moods like PMDD does, and PMDD does not have the extreme highs that manic depressives do.

Knowing this, PMDD and Bipolar disorder are not strongly linked except for malfunctions in the brain chemistry that regulates mood. While bipolar disorder is very difficult to treat, PMDD is not as bad because the root causes of this problem are hormonal and we can balance our hormones using natural methods and lifestyle changes.

My Holistic Medical Experiences With Sugar: Migraines, Blood Sugar, and Intestinal Yeast Infections

My Beginnings with Holistic Medicine

Holistic medicine is everything that lies outside of Western conventional allopathic medicine. I can't possibly write on such a breadth of alternative health, nor am I qualified. My background and training is as a logical rational trained research scientist, a world where anything of value must be proven by double blind experimentally sound scientific studies.

In 1991, I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. This is quite unusual to have at age 50, as this disease, or Manic Depression as it is also called, usually doesn't strike past the age of 40. I was in clinical depression when my wife Marcia dragged me into Manhattan from our home on Long Island about an hour and a quarter drive by car. A friend of hers, our insurance agent Jerry, suggested that the Atkins Center could help. Robert Atkins M.D. died a few years ago, but back in 1991 he had a five or six storied building that was devoted to what he termed Complementary Medicine. Complementary meant that the good Dr. Atkins was adding certain holistic medical approaches to his internal medicine cardiology traditional training. Upon arrival early in the morning, I was given a 5 hour blood glucose tolerance to determine whether I was either hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemic (possibly diabetic), blood was withdrawn for a variety of analyses, stool samples were collected, and food and other allergies were tested.

By the end of the day I had a bag full of vitamins, was told that I had yeast in my intestinal tract, and I went on the Atkins high protein, low carbohydrate diet. In that same year Marcia also dragged me to our first alternative medical conference in Manhattan. None of the approaches offered, even the orthomolecular psychiatry at the Atkins Center, relieved the clinical depression but it did start me on a journey with holistic medicine. Today, I practice my own brand of complementary medicine strictly for myself and for anyone else who wants to listen. Back in 1991 I didn't know that when I returned to Stony Brook University in August of 2000 to once again take up my professorial duties after a five year long term disability leave of absence from Bipolar Disorder that I would offer an eight hour course on nutritional medicine for the dental students. Much of what I have gleaned I put into this course on nutrition. I discuss a tiny bit of it here.

Sugar and Migraines

When I was twenty-seven and returned to Toronto from Israel with my Ph.D. in Biophysics, my headaches that I had all my life turned into migraines that I thought I would now have all my life. The migraines were much worse and my pain took on a new dimension of intensity. I had learned to tolerate pain since age four but this pain was excruciating. Migraine headaches are vascular in nature where one first triggers the vasoconstriction or squeezing of blood vessels in the head and neck followed by the vasodilation or expansion of blood vessels. During the second vascular phase, the blood vessels expand way past where they originally started and the poor migraine sufferer feels the horrific throbbing of the migraine. I don't know about giving birth but you can't imagine what the pain is like unless you are a migraine sufferer yourself.

After years of living with this physical pain, I read a book by a South American doctor in the early eighties on the relationship of sugar to migraines. I can't remember his name or the name of the book, but I do remember what the doctor wrote. He said that sugar triggered a migraine in certain individuals who were susceptible to the biochemical changes initiated by sugar. My science background allowed me to understand what the doctor was suggesting and I was looking for any explanation for my migraines as I was desperate. I had gone to the Headache Clinic at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, New York and no such explanation was offered. Basically, table sugar or the disaccharide sucrose gets broken down to the monosaccharides, glucose and fructose, in the body and causes insulin to be secreted by the pancreas.

The insulin is needed to transport the glucose breakdown sugar of the sucrose into our cells for energy, for work in our muscles, and for making triglycerides in our fat cells. A complex biochemical process takes place and there is an exchange of certain ions like magnesium and calcium across cell membranes that cause changes in the bioelectric character of the cells. If too much sucrose is broken down to glucose, the pancreas will secrete an overabundance of insulin. The insulin action can actually reduce the blood sugar levels to even lower levels than normally found in a person's bloodstream, sometimes to a level which is considered hypoglycemic. The decrease in blood glucose triggers the body to secrete the hormones, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), to cause the breakdown of glycogen stored in our cells in order to raise and rebalance our blood glucose levels. Blood glucose levels are actually our blood sugar levels but use of the word sugar is actually a misnomer because when we say sugar, we usually mean sucrose but it is the breakdown product of sucrose which is glucose. In any event, the secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine can be a problem in some migraine sufferers whose blood vessels are sensitive and susceptible because these hormones or neurotransmitters, in addition to breaking down glycogen which is a string of glucose molecules, cause vasoconstriction of the skin blood vessels in the head, neck and shoulders. The consequence is that the migraine will commence and becomes difficult to arrest.

The South American doctor noted that shortly after taking sweets, the migraine began in individuals. Anywhere from forty-five to ninety minutes after the sweets would do it. I noted his findings in the early 1980s in my head but never attempted to carefully watch my foods. That is until the Atkins Center in 1991. I weighed 175 pounds at the beginning of my treatment at the Atkins Center. A couple of months later on a carbohydrate-restricted diet I was 150 pounds. Miraculously the migraines disappeared at the lower weight. When I gained the weight back, the migraines returned. Not a double blind study for a scientist although it convinced me that there was some validity to the relationship of sucrose to migraines. I still haven't seen any writings on this subject; however, I suggest you try it to see if there is a relationship of sugar to your migraines. There may not be. Migraines have other causes such as food allergies and genetics but it may be worth a try.

As a corollary to this story, my migraines had an additional component. I have done regression therapy, Primal Therapy, back to my mother's womb and have eliminated the emotional component of my migraines. I was able to feel my repressed rage in the womb. I no longer suffer from migraines though if I don't watch the sugar, and even if I do, I still get muscle pain. In Florida, I get pain that localizes in my temples which may be an entirely different kettle of fish or a horse of a different color. Thank God, the migraines have left. A lot of supermarket foods have sucrose or glucose in them, so you need to read labels. You are trying to keep all sugar containing products to a minimum. Let's move on to a related topic.

Sugar and Why You Can Gain Weight

Low carbohydrate was the whole premise for the Atkins diet to lose weight and it does work if you restrict your diet according to his suggestions. There has been a lot of controversy over the Atkins diet that you can read about elsewhere. With Dr. Atkin's death, the diet has lost some traction although there are still quite a few successful imitations out there. Some argue that the diet is not a healthy one and it is a truism that there is risk with everything. I'm back to my 175 pound weight but I do watch the sugar. The truth is that only about twenty-five percent of us can adequately metabolize sugar and get it out of our bodies quickly so that it doesn't cause weight gain. The rest of us can be affected by ingesting carbohydrates. It's also a fact that although total daily calories are important, you can reach a state when you are older when it's not how much you eat but what you eat. You probably ask yourself why you are gaining weight when you are hardly eating, or so you believe. The whole weight loss syndrome is like making your way through a mine field.

I don't want to get too technical or give you scientific explanations that I don't myself have at my fingertips, but have you ever heard of insulin resistance. Holistic doctors talk about insulin resistance in relation to becoming pre-diabetic and eventually diabetic and the relationship to being overweight. But why are some skinnier people diabetic while some overweight people do not have the illness?

When sugar is broken down, we said above that through a complex biochemical process the glucose gets transported into our cells. This happens not only for table sugar but also for a starch like a potato that gets broken down into glucose or any simple carbohydrate like too much popcorn at the movies. We need that glucose for all our cells to provide energy in the form of ATP when the glucose reacts with oxygen inside our cells. The brain needs lots of energy and requires about 20% of our blood glucose. In addition to energy our muscles need the glucose to convert to lactic acid so that they can function for example in throwing a punch or in exercise. Finally the glucose gets transported into our fat cells and initially forms triglycerides which can be assimilated, with the components of the triglyceride being converted into other lipids inside our fat cells. It is all of these lipids that form which can put on weight, especially if we are storing more fat than we are burning. In the Atkins diet, the low carbohydrate-high protein diet forces the body to burn fat and thus Atkins saw the weight loss in his patients. If the weight loss is dramatic as in a very overweight person then if you have Type 2 diabetes, and you may not, the diabetes can be partially or fully reversed since the pancreas still has the potential to produce insulin. At the higher weight with so much sugar in the bloodstream, it is necessary for your doctor to prescribe insulin for you. At the lower weight your own insulin can do the job in controlling the blood glucose.

Insulin resistance first happens for the energy in our cells and brain although we usually have enough to function. There is a slowing down of the rate of glucose transport (thus the amount of glucose removed from the bloodstream is also decreased) which can be increased through medications such as Metformin or a nutritional supplement known as alpha lipoic acid. Now the glucose has accelerated more into our muscles and fat cells than into our cells and brain. This can happen at 150 pounds or 275 pounds depending on the person and his or her biochemistry. Next the muscles slow down in the insulin transport of glucose, so the best option for the body turns out to be transporting the glucose into fat cells. The muscle cells in addition to our other body cells have become more insulin resistant. The last to become insulin resistant are the fat cells, so if we are susceptible, we will gain weight until our fat cells become insulin resistant. We may weigh 350 pounds but we may still not be that bad in terms of insulin resistance in the fat cell systems. We keep gaining weight because we haven't reached insulin resistance with our fat cells. Or we can be that 175 pounds and already be insulin resistant everywhere. Once all three systems become significantly insulin resistant, the blood sugar (blood glucose) levels may rise to the point where we are considered pre-diabetic. The insulin from the pancreas responding to the glucose in the bloodstream can no longer do its job. When levels of glucose go even higher in the bloodstream, diabetes can occur irrespective of whether you are fat or skinny. There is however more of a correlation between diabetes and being overweight for other biochemical reasons.

A Tip in Preventing Intestinal Yeast Infections

Sugar can have detrimental effects on aggravating heart disease and cancer. It also can be a problem in some of us if we acquire an intestinal yeast infection because yeast such as Candida albicans love sugar. I should warn you that traditional allopathic medical doctors don't believe in intestinal yeast infections even though they do accept oral and vaginal yeast infections. As a scientist having experienced the effects of yeast, I am a believer. It's a lot more difficult to get rid of something than to acquire something. Some people say that about their marriages. Yeast in your large intestine can wreak havoc on you in similar ways that heavy metal contamination with mercury can. Or yeast can cause similar symptoms as a low thyroid or having the low blood sugar levels of hypoglycemia. A couple of the telling signs of yeast are bloating and brain fog but stool cultures and blood tests are needed to confirm an intestinal yeast infection. Mine was confirmed in 1991 at the Atkins Center. Yeast are very difficult to eliminate and a doctor who knows what he is doing is required. Intermixed with all of this is yeast allergy and the possibility of what I call yeast psychiatry. You may suffer clinical depression from the yeast and your family doctor may tell you that you need a psychiatrist. Chances are that you will need to go on a restricted carbohydrate diet.

While you are killing off the yeast and building your immune system to attack the yeast from the inside of your body outwards, you need to replace your intestinal tract with what we call good bacteria. When the yeast take over they replace all your good bacteria. Back in the early nineties, we compared a bunch of commercial products for their good bacteria. It turned out that many of the commercial products had no live bacteria or were contaminated. We never published this work but you do need a product with live bacteria like that found in some organic yogurts in order for the bacteria to attach and adhere to the intestinal wall. I still use one of these products today. It's called Kyo-Dophilus. I assure you that I have no stock in the company. There are others and you can ask your Health Food Store to recommend a product.

My tip is for prevention of yeast. The use of broad spectrum antibiotics that kill a wide variety of bacteria (both gram positive and gram negative bacteria) can alter the bacterial flora composition in the intestinal tract making it easier for yeast to take hold. Every time you take a pill of your broad spectrum antibiotic, you need to follow that one and a half hours to two hours later with two Kyo-Doplilus capsules or a similar product. You let the antibiotic first go through your digestive system and then follow a couple of hours later with the good bacteria. The antibiotic each time you take it is destroying good bacteria and you need to replace it with new good bacteria. The use of good bacteria seems also to help with vaginal yeast infections.

Conclusion

Many years ago before we all were born, the sweet taste was satisfied by the berries that our ancestors picked in the wild. Today sugar has become a staple of the American diet and our children love it. The refinement of white sugar from sugar cane is the culprit and we have gotten accustomed to the sweet taste. Food producers place sucrose or glucose or sugar derivatives like corn syrup into a majority of the products found on supermarket shelves. You might ask the question, "What is it about sugar that we like?" I'll leave you with a brief badly designed experiment that was conducted with baby rats. researchers placed the rat pups on a hotplate and the pups only lasted a few seconds before jumping off the hot plate. If the scientists pre-fed the pups sugared-water, the pups were able to stay on the hotplate significantly longer. The conclusion was that sugar stimulates the rat and presumably our endorphin system which distracts us from the pain. Anything in life that gives us an endorphin high in life makes us feel good. Yet every action has a reaction and their our costs for pursuing the good life.

Can Omega 3 Fatty Acids Help Bipolar Disorder?

To cut the long story short, yes, omega 3 fatty acids can help bipolar disorder. There have been various studies which confirm the amazing benefits of omega 3 in fish oil in treating this difficult condition that affects about 15 million individuals in America alone.

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental condition that is marked by extreme moods and mood swings. Moods of bipolar sufferers may be high with impulsiveness and obsession, hyperactivity and feelings of supernatural abilities. At other times, they would feel low and depressed. This condition generally impeded proper thinking and judgment, and hinders proper social interaction. It sometimes even leads to serious problems including suicidal tendencies. This condition must then be treated for an individual to lead a normal life.

Despite advancement in science, there has not been any medication that can completely provide cure to manic depression. Psychiatrists normally recommend intake of anti-depressant drugs that can manage the symptoms of the disorder, such as lithium and Valproate. It has been found that these medications can control the production of arachidonic acid in the brain, and this leads to proper management of behaviour and mood swings. Although they work in managing symptoms, these anti-depressant drugs prove to be harmful especially when taken in high dosage for long periods of time.

Fortunately, there are now some natural alternatives found for treating bipolar disorders. Scientists have linked these too and have found that omega 3 fatty acids richly found in this supplement can help bipolar disorder and other mental conditions. How can omega 3 fatty acids help bipolar disorder? When taken at high dosage, omega 3 can prevent the formation of arachidonic acid and raise the levels of brain-nourishing DHA and EPA in the body. This leads to the significant reduction of bad eicosanoids, which are known to be the leading cause of depressive feelings linked to this mental condition.

With omega 3 fatty acids, a bipolar sufferer's brain will be nourished with all the right nutrients to help promote normal brain function. Although this supplement does not take effect as fast as anti-depressant drugs, these can get to the root of the condition and gradually cure it in the most natural way possible.

The link between two has been established through many studies. Bipolar sufferers must then take high amounts of fish oil in their diet or better yet, take this supplements. With an active lifestyle, stable moral support, and fish oil supplementation, bipolar depression has gotten easier to manage. Help bipolar disorder sufferers get a chance at a normal life, let them know about omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil today.

Do I Have Bipolar Disorder? The Three Sides of Manic Depression

Are you wondering if you have bipolar disorder? Maybe you aren't quite sure of the signs to look for, but you have a hunch that you may have manic depression. The three indicators of bipolar disorder are depression, mania, and mixed states.

1.) Mania

What is mania and what are some of the warning signs? Mania is a period of excitability that involves increased energy and a lack of sleep. You may be able to work for days on end and your productivity will go through the roof.

Unfortunately, as mania progresses, thoughts will become confused, and you won't be able to get enough done, with thoughts and ideas flowing too fast until everything in your head becomes cluttered and frustrating.

2.) Mixed State

Anxiety is a common feeling in a mixed state, which combines features of both depression and mania at the same time. You may feel like you are having a panic attack, where you become so worried that breathing becomes difficult, and you feel like your life is out of control. Even the littlest thing can set off a chain of fear that ruins your life.

3.) Depression

Depression is marked by a lack of energy to go about your daily routine. Maybe you lose interest in hobbies, friends, or family. While you may have been the life of the party when manic, now you just want everyone to leave you alone, while you crawl up in a ball and sleep. You may also experience weight gain, despair, and a low sense of self worth.

Bipolar II Disorder - Do You Suffer From This Mild Form of Bipolar Disorder?

If you have bipolar II, you should consider yourself lucky. Bipolar II is defined as a person having at least one incidence of depression in their lifetime, in additional to one episode of hypomania, an excited state.

As opposed to bipolar I, bipolar II doesn't interfere with your working schedule, due to a lack of severe manic episodes. Some symptoms of bipolar I include, hypersexuality, hypomania, and mild depression.

1.) Hypomania

Hypomania can also be quite pleasant, and offer you a boost in your productivity. People in a hypomanic state will be happy and very sociable, the life of any party.

2.) Hypersexuality

Hypersexuality is an increase in sexual desire, which can lead to indiscretions such as affairs or promiscuous encounters.

3.) Mild Depression

Someone with bipolar II will have down swings in mood, but these usually aren't so severe as to affect work. Maybe you will feel tired after work for an entire week, or lack the energy to conduct your usual hobbies. Generally, mild depression will not force any major lifestyle choices.

Bipolar II can usually be treated with fish oil, such as the omega-3 at your local drugstore, and therapy can be used to understand your feelings, and learn to control impulses.

Some forms of therapy that can help include social rhythm therapy, which can help you maintain a regular schedule, as well as behavioral therapy, which can teach you to maintain a healthy body and eschew crutches like alcohol and tobacco. Two other forms are light therapy, which uses full spectrum lighting to treat depressive symptoms, and cognitive therapy, which can help you think positive thoughts and overcome irrational depressive thoughts.

This is My Story - Suffering in Silence

The reason I am writing this is to help someone who is in the same situation where I found myself eighteen years ago so they can benefit from my own funny, unique, sometimes hurtful, painful, uncomfortable and even humiliating personal experience. I am writing this is to answer the questions I had about myself, the discovery that my depression was not clinical depression but that it was manic depression, the onset of my mood swings and Christianity in my own life. If North America can be described as the 'Prozac Nation' by the North American author Elizabeth Wurtzel and the USA coined the terms 'hype' and 'spin' then why is mental health such a low on the list of priorities of the people we voted into power when it basically affects everyone around us directly or indirectly, in a significant manner or otherwise?

It is a psychiatric illness also known as bipolar mood disorder or having mood swings. I have lived with this debilitating, mysterious and deadly disease my whole life. I have struggled to overcome the stigma attached to this disease by people who are intimidated by anything that they do not have any control over.

This is my story. Sometimes I imagine that I am standing on a stage giving a seminar when I say those words.

I am just like you. I believe there is nothing extraordinary about my life except the way I choose to live it. Some people have to have physical proof that something is amiss with their body. We put so much of our faith into the hands of healers. Faith is a supernatural force of will. Time, God, homeopathy, holistic repatterning, reflexology, full body massage, tea, herbal infusions, therapists, psychiatrists and doctors are all healers. We don't have time to visualise and reflect what our bodies are trying to tell us why we are hurting.

The illness was there for a long time. Now when I look back the truth about it is undeniable. It can be cured - or at best prevented from recurring - to the best of the patient, the doctor and the pharmacist's ability.

I don't believe in labels like gifted, talented, creative genius or eccentric.

It is such a fine illness that influences subtle nuances in an individual's behaviour, that it takes a cluster of specific symptoms to diagnose it. It takes charge of your brain's serotonin and dopamine levels. The feel- good hormones in your brain and that are when your slow descent into a personal and very private hell begins - your secret pain.

I was brought up in a liberal-minded household by parents who believed that love, happiness and peacefulness where greater aspirations than prestige, position and status. I am part of only a lucky few. I was taught not to bear grudges. I was told when someone hurt my feelings to ignore him or her and see him or her for who they truly were. I was taught to be forgiving and understanding and that there wasn't any difference between the rich and the poor children at the schools I went to. I was taught that the noblest profession in the world was being a teacher. Re-enforcing values and excellence, as well as enriching wonderfully young lives filled with so much hope and promise.

My parents taught by example. My father is a community leader and my mother is a teacher.

What I do believe is that the word stigma is a synonym for phobia. I believe people choose to see the very best in someone and that their judgment is clouded when they ignore the rest. Acceptance is something that I think we all think comes at a very high price. It is the denial of human dignity that comes at a great price with unforeseeable circumstances.

The signs and symptoms of a hypomanic episode are as follows. You behave wild and free, have depressive slumps, spiraling depression. You don't sleep. You don't nap. You are the focus - the centre of the universe. You are beautiful, smart, determined but the reflection that everybody else sees is militant, horribly annoying and irritating.

You feel humiliated in later introspection while others felt uncomfortable in your presence. You were Dr. Jekyll incognito and Mr. Hyde in the flesh.

There is a genetic predisposition to depression and mania as well. There has been a history of mental illness on my father's side including alcoholism, depression and suicide.

Depression is a devastating illness that affects millions of people worldwide. The more family values are on the decrease the more suicide is on the increase.

People refer to their depression as sadness and stress. Mental health seems not to be a moot point for people in government. To the world at large that are still suffering in silence, I say, break the silence; add a visible, outspoken voice. There are more of us out there than you realise. Keep on fighting. I did. I do everyday and as I take my first breathe for the day, I thank God I am alive. It's not brave when you're not scared and sometimes I am both good days and bad.

I had no idea I was sick for a long time. Later in the beginning stages it defined who I was. My whole life revolved around hiding my disease. Sometimes it was easy to hide and sometimes it wasn't. It was cerebral. It was a catalyst. There was no scarring, no wound, no stitches and sutures required. I have changed. I have changed for the better only just these last few years. I am a nicer person. I am kinder. My rough edges are softer. Perhaps it is a clique but it has become true. As the popular song goes, 'We can find love if we search within ourselves' but also, I believe, everywhere if we look hard enough.

People who suffer from mental illness think that they are a burden to society. Fact. The suicide rate amongst teenagers - the most vulnerable group - is growing. Fact. Social grants are on the increase as well due to a decrease in family values, growing up as orphans or having a single parent, poverty, unemployment, depression and stress. The list goes on. Rape, domestic violence, battered woman syndrome and the stigmatisation of mental illness is never-ending.

Fact. Some people still continue to have a blind faith in their medical aid or fund, that is, if they have one. Ignorance is like scar tissue, subterranean and lurking beneath the surface. Whoever said ignorance is bliss was duping her or himself. Unless a forum or a platform can be raised to break the silence, annihilate in one blow the stigma of mental illness and of prejudice. Suffering in silence from depression and stress, families will break up and kids will be caught in the crossfire of divorce. There is nothing more devastating in the world than a child who feels unloved and has no self-esteem.

Both Princess Diana and Mother Theresa said that the greatest disease that exists today is the feeling of being unloved.

I felt bewildered when I read 'The girl in the Parisienne dress', an article that was published in another popular women's magazine on Ingrid Jonker; a celebrated South African poet. She was a genius, that goes without saying, but also deeply emotionally unstable because of her childhood and her past and the one man who she would never gain approval or love from - her father. You can't colour happiness outside the edges of your life and imagine it's a sea mist surrounding your body when inside you're backsliding and waning in gloom and doom. Everything around you is blacker than night. William Styron, an American writer, described depression as 'darkness visible' and that was the name of the book he wrote chronicling his own depression as well. I think that there are no two words that describe depression and stress better than 'darkness visible'.

There is one thing that I have learned during the past eighteen years. The future is still in my power, even though the past cannot be changed. Mental illness is not a human stain. Currently I am working on an anthology of my poetry, a collection of short stories and I am beginning work on a novel co-authored with my father called 'From hell to eternity: A memoir of madness'. Earlier this year I received a grant from the National Arts Council which not only encouraged me to begin to write again - this time with both my survival and my experience in mind - but to put together some of my earlier poetry in a collection entitled 'Africa, where art thou?' Yes, my life has turned out rather unconventionally from who, what, where I'd envisaged myself being but not day goes by now that I am not thankful for. I do not question why I am here or what my divine purpose is. I am not driven by fear and uncertainties anymore or if I behave self-consciously. Although there is still a sorrow here I cannot reform, that yields stillness in quiet moments of reflection or contemplation, every event in my life composes furious life anew. Through all the infinite wisdom of my mistakes that came before, the love of my family still remains. It is both a reminder of what came before and what lies ahead in my future.

Bipolar Disorder and Diabetes - What's the Connection?

Diabetes and bipolar disorder are co-morbid conditions. This means they often coexist, with many people having both bipolar disorder and diabetes.

Research indicates that this is more than an unfortunate coincidence. Some studies have shown people with bipolar disorder are up to three times more likely to have diabetes than members of the general population.

Also, there is evidence that people with bipolar disorder and diabetes are more likely to face other health challenges such as being more prone to rapid cycling, and more likely to have chronic, as opposed to milder, mood episodes. There may be other negative lifestyle consequences as well. One Canadian study found that 81% of bipolar people with diabetes were receiving disability payments, versus 30% of bipolar patients without diabetes.

In diabetes, because of either a shortage of insulin, or an inability by the body to make use of insulin, sugar and other food can no longer be correctly metabolized and turned into energy. Sugar simply continues to accumulate in the blood, causing a variety of health problems.

The diabetic mood swings resulting from excess sugar and carbohydrates in the body are extremely similar to the mood swings experienced in bipolar disorder. A person with diabetes may seem depressed, or manic, or both.

There is also pre-diabetes, some experts consider America's largest healthcare epidemic. Also known as Syndrome X or metabolic syndrome, this condition occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. As of 2009 there are 57 million Americans who have pre-diabetes.

To make matters worse, several of the leading medications used to treat bipolar disorder can cause significant weight gain, insulin resistance, and hyperglycemia.

Diabetes is usually treated by changes in diet and through medication, for example regular injections of insulin.

The most important dietary changes are to opt for foods high in nutrition but low in calories, sugar and fat. As stabilizing blood sugar is so important, it is ideal if you can eat your meals at the same time every day, and consume a healthy proportion of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, with little variation to the ratio from day to day.

Increased physical activity such as the kind of exercise program that also protects against mood swings and depression is also important in both treating and preventing metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes.

Why do diabetes and bipolar co-occur? This question has yet to be answered definitively. However, there are several theories, including the following:

• The stress hormone cortisol tends to be elevated in both bipolar patients and diabetics. In particular, very high level levels of cortisol have been observed in people suffering from bipolar depression. Too much cortisol leads to insulin resistance so it is possible that the elevated cortisol in people with bipolar disorder leads to diabetes.


• People with bipolar disorder often self-medicate with food, including the "comfort foods" high in sugar and saturated fats that contribute to both metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes.
  All people diagnosed with bipolar disorder should immediately have a comprehensive physical exam to check for the presence of common co-morbid conditions, especially diabetes.

All people diagnosed with bipolar disorder should immediately have a comprehensive physical exam to check for the presence of common co-morbid conditions, especially diabetes.

What is Bipolar Anxiety - Is Bipolar Anxiety Dangerous?

As defined in Wikipedia: "Bipolar anxiety or disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood clinically referred to as mania or, if milder, hypomania. Individuals who experience manic episodes also commonly experience depressive episodes or symptoms, or mixed episodes in which features of both mania and depression are present at the same time. These episodes are usually separated by periods of "normal" mood, but in some individuals, depression and mania may rapidly alternate, known as rapid cycling. Extreme manic episodes can sometimes lead to psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations."

Explanation of the above paragraph in plain English:
For most people there are times when they feel anxious or stressed. This is a normal occurrence in our lives at some point in time. This type of anxiety or stress is not usually harmful. For those who let the anxiety take over their lives the situation can become serious if not properly treated and dealt with.

For some they experience depression and mood swings that become quite severe. It affects their thinking and can interfere with their personal relationships. They may have difficulty concentrating and performing their daily duties. Those people may be suffering from bipolar anxiety.

It is not uncommon for someone who suffers from severe anxiety to also be bipolar. The combination of these two disorders can be devastating to their lives. They may find that if they suffer from bipolar anxiety they will not be able to hold down a job or contribute anything to friendships they have formed with others. It is very important for those who suffer from bipolar anxiety get help to overcome the problem. Only then will they be able to live a normal and happy life.

Most people who are bipolar will also suffer from anxiety. It seems the two most often go together. It is often difficult for doctors to diagnose bipolar anxiety because either disorder can mimic the other.

If you suffer from panic attacks and experience significant fear, followed by periods of severe depression it is a good sign that you suffer from bipolar anxiety. Often symptoms will develop in children and grow worse with age.

A person who suffers from bipolar anxiety may find that it is difficult to get a good night's sleep. They may experience fear that they will not wake up or that something bad will happen to them while they are asleep. They may go to great lengths to avoid sleeping because of their fear. Often those who suffer from bipolar anxiety will pace the floor to ward off the sleep.

People who suffer from bipolar anxiety may also attempt to commit suicide because they feel this is the only way to get out of their situation. Many feel that life is hopeless and nothing is going to get any better for them. If the disorder gets this bad it is extremely important to get help.

You may need to consult your doctor to get the help you need to cope with both bipolar and anxiety. Often medication can be of considerable help. You should also find a friend or a coach that you can confide in. Talking your way through and episode may help give you the confidence you need to take control.

Try to determine what causes you to feel anxious or depressed. Often you will find that there are certain triggers that bring on an attack. Recognizing those triggers can help you to either avoid them or prepare for them. The worst thing that you can do is to try and keep everything bottled up inside.

Many people also find that certain relaxation techniques will be very helpful in combating the symptoms of a bipolar anxiety attack. Deep breathing exercises may help because it takes your mind off of what is bothering you. Taking a walk can also help. Getting outside and enjoying nature is a great way to relax and take stock of your life.

If you suffer from bipolar anxiety the worst thing you can do is nothing. Seek the help that you need to help you deal with the problem. In the end you will be glad you did.

Manic Depression

Have you encountered a person undergoing extreme mood swings, or sudden behavioral changes? The person is suffering from bipolar disorder or manic depression. These sudden mood swings can last for hours, days, weeks or even months. Bipolar disorder or manic depression results in quite distinct mood fluctuations that, once traced and analyzed, can be anticipated.

You are in depression when you deviate yourself from your normal activities. Your zest for life gets a backseat because of depression. There is a tendency to isolate oneself from the external environment and develop this strange behavior, which highlights your lack of confidence. Always remember that when you are in depression, others are also affected by the rough patches in your life.

Bipolar disorder or manic depression is not restricted to any particular age group. Though bipolar disorders usually start during late adolescence or early adulthood, they can also affect children or elderly people. This form of manic depression is not restricted to a particular sex, i.e. male or female, or to a particular race or class. It must be however notified, that manifestations of bipolar disorder or manic depression is different in men and women.

Once diagnosed, bipolar disorder or manic depression can be treated under proper medication and consultation with medical experts. Usually, bipolar disorder or manic depression is associated with certain general types of mood swings, namely, hypomanic episode, a major depressive episode, and a mixed episode.

Bipolar disorders or manic depression can be either categorized under Bipolar I disorder or Bipolar II disorder. Bipolar I disorder is characterized by elevated moods for at least a week, talkativeness, decreased need of sleep, flight of ideas, and so on. Bipolar II category, on the other hand, is characterized by depressive mood behavior with at least one hypomanic episode. The second disorder seriously hampers the social life of the patient because of erratic mood changes.

Bipolar disorders or manic depression are usually indescribable and are no instant cure for the illness. Such forms of depression can go on for hours, weeks or months if left untreated. It is always advisable to consult the doctor immediately if sudden changes in mood occur. Bipolar disorders or manic depression can always be treated with proper medications and therapy. But never leave it untreated because it worsens a person's mental and physical condition to a great extent.

Always remember, more than doctors, it is the family and friends of the patient who help him or her in overcoming the problem. Always encourage him or her to seek the help and care of a psychiatrist immediately

Manic Depression - Introduction

Manic Depression is another name for Bi-Polar. When an individuals mood swings are very irregular with sudden changes from good to bad this is commonly associated with being Bi-Polar. It is just another in the many forms of depression. This depression is not the same as just being sad or upset for over something in particular. It is more serious than that. The diagnosis of being Bi-Polar is just another stage of the disease of depression. Millions of people in the United States are diagnosed with Manic Depression every year. Typically, some type of depression yearly affects around 17 million Americans.

The draw back is that only a third of the potentially affected will ever seek medical assistance or get some type of diagnosis. If you do not look for help than it is very hard to find a cure. Many Americans are hesitant to confront a disease that is categorized as a mental illness. They do not want to be stereotyped as one who must be out of their mind. Diseases that affect the brain have always been very complicated. It is hard to shake the stigma that comes with the diagnosis. However, as with any form of depression such as Manic Depression, the affliction does not make you less a person. It does not mean that you are a nut case. It means you have an illness like any other. It can be treated. First it has to be identified.

The causes of all forms of depression are still being examined in the medical profession. It has been shown that depression can be brought on by many possibilities. It is known that biological, genetic, and environmental factors have to be taken into consideration. We know that it seems to be caused by a chemical imbalance on the brain. We also know that stress can play a major role in the advent of depression. Every day we confront events in life that cause us stress. It can be problems at work, in our relationships with those we love or facing the reality of trying to survive week to week. Manic Depression does not play favorites. It can affect the rich and the poor. It is not racist. No color or nationality is free from this illness.

The symptoms for all forms of depression are quite similar. The frequent change in personality, the mood swings that go up and then goes down. The advent of sleeplessness is another sign of depression. The feeling of helplessness, hopelessness and Desperation. When your ability to function properly at work and at play becomes ever apparent then the possibility of depression is real. There is hope for depression sufferers. You can find help. There are medicines both prescribed and natural that can offer a cure to Manic Depression. There are also medical professionals that can help your illness through 'talk therapy'. There are also many support groups that will help you deal with the disease. The first step in the cure is seeking the assistance.

How Can I Beat Insomnia?

Question:

I have always suffered from sleep problems and am constantly tired. Sometimes I can't get to sleep, other times I wake in the early hours. I don't drink coffee and I keep bed times relaxed and regular. What can I do to improve my sleep pattern?

Answer:

Recent article in the Archives of Women's Mental Health journal suggests that insomnia is an overlooked epidemic among women. One person in five takes some kind of remedy for sleep problems, and the number of sufferers is undoubtedly increasing. If anyone has more than three nights of disturbed sleep a week something needs to be done about it complications from lack of sleep include fatigue, headache, irritability, anxiety, poor skin quality and reduced daytime performance. Researchers at Harvard Medical School are currently reviewing evidence suggesting that sleep is vial for memory and brain function, and many scientists believe that insomnia can lead to an increase in chronic disease.

The term insomnia embraces any disturbance of the sleep-wake cycle. Other sleep disorders include nightmares, sleepwalking and bed-wetting.

The causes of sleep problems are many and wide-ranging. Caffeine, alcohol, smoking and dehydration are common factors. Environmental factors, such as electrical gadgets and geopathic stress (which can occur where there are overhead power lines, electrical cables in a congested city and underground rivers, for example), may be involved. A lack of fresh air and an overheated bedroom can cause problems. Your body's air-conditioning system switches off during sleep, so you may become too hot, and your heart and breathing rates could increase. Aches and pains, arthritis, fibromyalgia, menopause, restless-legs syndrome, sleep apnoea, ME/chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis and cancer can all lead to insomnia.

The mind is a powerful disturber of peaceful nights. Stress, anxiety, bereavement and other emotional upsets can stop you dropping off and/or cause frequent waking between 3am and 4am. This early waking is due to the nervous system being hypersensitive to the production of daytime hormones (cortisol and adrenalin) at around this time, replacing the night-time hormones (melatonin and serotonin).

Insomnia can also accompany psychological disorders, such as schizophrenia, manic depression or paranoia.

In my experience, most people with insomnia have reversed day-night cycles. They toss and turn, their minds fully alert worrying about not being able to sleep. How much sleep you need is individual. Some people can feel refreshed after just a few hours. you need to adjust to your own rhythm: if you sleep less at night take a nap during the day. Even a few minutes of sleep or meditation can refresh the brain.

Here are my suggestions:

* Avoid food and drink that agitates the mind: caffeinated drinks, such as coffee and cola: more than one unit of alcohol daily, salty crisps and snacks, and anything containing monosodium glutamate (MSG).

* Eat your evening med early, by 8pm if you want to go to sleep at 1pm. Avoid rich, heavy food, such as curries, cream sauces, fried foods, lots of bread, mushrooms, citrus
fruit juices, fizzy water and beer. These cause a build-up of gas in the abdomen and need at least four hours to digest.

* Don't eat sweets at night as sugar activates the brain.

* After your meal, go for a gentle ten-minute walk

* Establish a pattern of winding down and preparing for bed at a similar time. Try not to stay up too late (beyond 10pm), as the body and brain become overtired and need much more sleep to feel restored.

* Don't have too hot a bath before bed as it may increase your heart rate and agitate the mind.

* Take one Calm Down capsule at bedtime for one month.

* Drink two glasses of still, room temperature water before going to bed, and go to the lavatory just before you sleep.

* If you wake in the night, sip some water and suck two tablets of the homoeopathic remedy nux vomica 30, then two tablets of belladonna 30. Do this for one month.

* Remove electrical gadgets (TV, music systems and computers) from the bedroom because electromagnetic waves alert the brain. Some researchers recommend positioning your bed, head away from power sources.

* Keep your bedroom window slightly open, if possible.

* Listen to a relaxation CD, or try chanting. This helps you to and body to calm down.

* Massage your neck and jaw - or ask your partner to do this for you - for ten minutes before going to sleep to help relieve tension by increasing blood flow to the brain.

Mental Disorders List - The Most Common Mental Conditions Explained

This may come as a surprise, but mental health experts claim that one in four people suffer from a mental illness each year. As much as five percent of the population is afflicted with a serious, long-term mental illness. Here is a mental disorders list with the most common conditions explained.

Anxiety Disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is an umbrella term used to describe a number of different anxiety problems such as phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder and anxiety attacks. Anxiety refers to feelings of tension and worry that get so out of hand they make it hard to function normally.

Chronic Depression. Depressive disorders are extremely common. These are marked by sadness, low self-esteem, loss of meaning in life, lack of pleasure in things you enjoy, and suicidal thoughts. Depression often occurs along with other mental illnesses such as anxiety disorder, addiction, or psychosis.

Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar disorder is one of the most common mood disorders. It's marked by dramatic swings from manic to depressed. These moods are much stronger than the regular ups and downs all of us experience. Manic or depressive episodes can last anywhere from a few minutes to weeks at a time. People with bipolar are likely to make bad decisions that can hurt themselves or others when at these extremes.

Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is an extreme mental condition that often makes it hard for the sufferer to enjoy a normal life. It's marked by delusions, paranoia and hallucinations. Schizoaffective disorder is a combination of schizophrenia and mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder. Most schizophrenia sufferers can enjoy a fairly regular life as long as they're on the proper medication and seeking therapy.

Dementia. Dementia is a loss of cognitive functioning that occurs as you get older. It's more extreme than the usual loss of functioning that comes with old age. Dementia actually isn't a disease but a way to describe symptoms where memory, language, attention span, problem solving abilities and other mental functions are impaired.

Eating Disorders. Eating disorders are a form of mental illness and they're much more common than most people realize. Many people with eating disorders can maintain the appearance of being healthy. Eating disorders are caused by distorted body image, usually where the person perceives themselves as overweight even though they aren't.

Addiction. Addiction is an extremely common form of mental illness. There are two types of addictions - addictions to substances and addictions to certain behaviors or activities. While alcohol, prescription drug and illegal drug addictions are the most common, gambling addiction, sex addiction, and food addiction are also quite widespread. In all addictions, the addictive substance or behavior triggers pleasure chemicals in the brain. The addict becomes dependent on the drug or activity and can't feel pleasure without it.

All of the above mental disorders are treatable and treatment has high success rates. If you suffer from a mental illness, it's important to realize that you're not alone. The sooner you seek help, the sooner you can receive treatment and get back to optimal health.

The Dangers of Bipolar Depression

Bipolar disorder is also known as a Manic Depressant. Basically the same symptoms occur with very minor variations. In either case the afflicted is in an extreme case of mood swings and this can become quite dangerous to them. Read on to find out the signs.

There are two common types of this disorder there is the mania and the suppressed mania. The mania is a extreme mood swing which can go either ecstatic or major depressive. The mild mania takes the same directions, but it is not as drastic in range.

This disorder originates in the brain and is named appropriately because the persons moods can swing in either direction. You can either be overly energetic or you can be extremely down and depressed.

What to look for on the upside

• Hyperactive - out of control


• Excessive drinking or use of drugs


• Lack of concentration


• Poor sleep


• Can't control temper

What to look for on the downside

• Sadness


• Fatigue


• Eating problems


• Weight loss/gain


• Lost self-esteem


• Anti-social


• Can't enjoy things


• Thoughts of suicide

As you can see the chemical imbalance that occurs takes a person to extremes in both directions. Either causes damage both physically and mentally.

The risk of drug or alcohol abuse is common. The search for some kind of control by the afflicted causes them to use these things frequently. This of course exacerbates the problem even worse.

Maintaining a quiet environment, resting and diet adjustments are the start to regaining some normality, but that's just the start. There are other steps you must take to get your life back to normal.

In today's world there are many ways to throw your systems out of whack. Stress, foods, water, etc, etc... Cleaning your body of toxins is one of the very first steps to take.

What Are The Types of Depression?

Almost everyone experiences some form of depression. Simply put, depression elicits feelings of sadness, worthless, and hopelessness. Depressed individuals are often found to have negative views of things around them. Feelings of guilt may also come with depression.

In many cases, depression requires no medical treatment. Individuals feel sad for one reason or another, but the feeling normally goes away after a few days. In some cases, the feeling of sadness can become severe such that it already interferes with one's health and state of mind. Depression of this form has to be properly managed to eliminate or reduce health risks and suicidal tendencies.

Types of Depression

There are at least 10 different types of depression that you need to be aware of:

Major Depression. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, major depression is the type whereby the affected individual is in a state of gloom for most of the day lasting for a couple of weeks at the very least. Common to individuals with this disorder are the following signs and symptoms:

• Lack of interest in doing daily tasks.


• Loss of appetite or overeating


• Weight loss or weight gain


• Insomnia or oversleeping


• Fatigue or lack of energy


• Loss of focus and concentration


• Inability to make decisions


• Suicidal thoughts

Dysthymia. Dysthymia or dysthmic disorder is depression of the chronic type. Individuals with dysthymia are said to be in and out of depression for a period of two years, accompanied by the following signs and symptoms:

• Feelings of hopelessness


• Eating problems (decreased or increased appetite)


• Lack of energy


• Low self-esteem


• Loss of focus and concentration


• Inability to make decisions

Manic Depression (Manic-Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder). Individuals with Manic Depression have manic episodes in one instance and may or may not have depressed episodes. Manic-depressive individuals appear to be highly irritable for a week or so. Their self-esteem is so great that they may feel as if they are the most important people in the world. Individuals with this disorder:

• Have an inflating ego.


• Are hyperactive they may not have the time to sleep anymore.


• Talk nonstop.


• Get distracted easily.


• Have an increased interest in social and work activities.


• Are engaged in risky habits, such as irresponsible sex and shopping beyond one's limits

Seasonal Affective Disorder. Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is major depression that occurs during a specific season, such as fall or winter, for instance.

Post Partum Depression. It typically occurs within a month after giving birth.

Atypical Depression. This type is similar to a major depressive disorder or dysthymia but which comes with a temporary improvement in one's mood after experiencing something nice and beautiful.

Endogenous Depression. It occurs with no apparent reason. One simply feels "out of it".

Situational Depression. This type is brought about by circumstances such as death of a loved one, loss of job or broken relationship. It does not last for more than 6 months.

Psychotic Depression. This kind is major depression than comes with hallucinations and delusions. When somebody who is diagnosed with major depression appears to hear voices, you can be almost certain that person is entering the state of psychotic stage.

Catatonic Depression. It is a subtype of Major Depression characterized by lack of or inappropriate and bizarre voluntary movements. Catatonics meaninglessly repeat movements or words.

Treatment Options

Treatment options will vary greatly depending on the type of depression to be treated. A combination of psychotherapy and medications is usually recommended, and in more severe cases, ECT or shock therapy may be necessary. Treatment will also involve controlling the signs and symptoms to prevent them from posing major health risks.

Bipolar Disorder - Getting Health Insurance If You Have Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, manic-depressive disorder, or bipolar affective disorder, is a mental health condition in which sufferers experience alternative periods of elation and depression. This condition is expensive to treat because it requires daily medication and frequent doctor's visits. Unfortunately, if bipolar disorder is a pre-existing medical condition, patients may not be able to receive coverage. Even if this disorder was diagnosed after enrolling in a health insurance plan, patients may run into problems. However, getting coverage is possible. Here's what the insurance company will want to know.

A health insurance company will first want to know if you are employed. People with Bipolar Disorder pose a significant financial risk to an insurance company due to the sheer amount of doctor's visits and medication required. They need to know if you can pay the premiums as well as anything they cannot cover. Usually all you will need to do is provide the company with your employer's information; they will then verify your employment by contacting your place of work. Make sure to let your boss know that the insurance company may be calling so he or she will not be caught off guard.

The insurance company will also need to know exactly when you were diagnosed as well as when the last major episode occurred. There may be a formal request for your medical records, in which case you will need to supply them with the name of your physician. However, if you have not been hospitalized recently, this may not be an issue. Basically, the insurance company wants to know the chances that you might require an inpatient or outpatient hospital visit. They will do this by looking at your medical history, progress, and number of hospital visits.

Finally, the health insurance company will want to know exactly what medication you are taking as well as how you are responding to it. Again, they are assessing your risk to determine how much you will cost them. Do you need a lot of medication to function? Have you been through many different types of medication to find one that worked? They will take a look at how well you have been progressing since you started medication in order to determine your overall stability. Showing the insurance company that your Bipolar Disorder poses few risks will greatly improve your chances of getting approved for coverage.

If you need assistance in locating particular coverages at a pre-determined price, we can help you save up to 50% on your health insurance monthly premium.

Why Are Depression Statistics Important?

How many people suffer from depression? What kind of depression is the most common? Do you wonder if you are alone in your depression?

Depression statistics in the United States

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States for the age group 15 to 44, and is among the leading causes of disability worldwide. By the year 2020, WHO predicts that depression will be the second most common health issue in the world. Most people with depression never seek treatment, although it is considered extremely treatable, with 80% to 90% of people who are treated experiencing improvement in both mental and physical health.

Major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder are the two most common types of depression.

Major depression affects about 8% of the population of the United States, age 18 or older, or about 15 million people. An episode of major depression may occur only once in a person's lifetime; but more often, someone who has experienced one episode of major depression is likely to experience recurrences throughout their lifetime. The onset of major depression can occur at any age; however, most people are diagnosed in their late 20s or early 30s. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that it is more prevalent in the 45 to 64 years of age. Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with some type of depression.

Dysthymic disorder affects approximately 3.3 American adults (age 18 or older), or about 1.5% of the population. People with dysthymic disorder may also experience episodes of major depression, in conjunction with their dysthymia. This disorder is characterized by long periods (two years or more) of symptoms that are less severe than major depression and typically less debilitating, but which can prevent a person from being fully functional or feeling well. The majority of these patients are first diagnosed in their early 30s.

Bipolar disorder is estimated to affect approximately 5.7 million Americans over the age of 18, and typical onset is in the early to mid 20s. Early onset of symptoms may occur at a much younger age, as young as 9 or 10 years of age, but this is rare.

Depression is also linked to other health problems. People with depression are four times more likely to have a heart attack, and are at increased risk of dying from a second heart attack. Depression is also known to weaken the immune system and lead to other medical illnesses. The costs associated with health care, lost work time and disability are estimated to be near $100 billion dollars a year in the United States alone.

Why are depression statistics important?

As you can see, depression is a debilitating and costly condition that is related to secondary health issues that can be life-threatening. Most people who don't seek treatment either don't realize their problems are due to depression, or they are embarrassed to seek help. Recognizing the symptoms in yourself and others in order to effect treatment is an important factor in living a productive and enjoyable life.

Manic Depression - Is it Hereditary?

Many women who have been diagnosed with Manic Depression sometimes long to have children, but often wonder what the chances are that they will pass it onto their children. They know all to well the effects of this disorder and hope to not pass it on to another generation. Studies have shown that manic depression is often found in the genes, and is passed down the bloodline. That statement does not necessarily mean you will pass it on, it means there is a chance.

If manic depression (also known as Bipolar Disorder) is found fairly often in your family history, your chances increase. People who have no history found in their genealogy have virtually no risk, less than 1%. If you have bipolar disorder, the approximate chances of you passing it to your child is 5-15%.

Approximately twenty five percent of adult bipolar patients report having their first manic episode before they were 20 years of age. There have been studies that have reported children as young as 5 years old showing signs of minor manic episodes. There is a lot of research being performed on manic depression. There are institutions reporting that they will soon be able to do a screening to determine if you do in fact carry the gene that may pass it on to your children.

If you believe your child may have bipolar disorder, a calm and nurturing environment can decrease the chances of your child having major manic episodes. This is a disorder that sometimes needs a trigger to in order to become progressive. A violent or stressful environment can cause trigger manic depression, and cause episodes to increase and become more severe. Be sure to stay in continuous contact with you physician to stay on top of the newest Bipolar Medications and treatment options available.

Three Things Not To Say To A Depressed Person

Depression is a potentially debilitating mental illness that can range from mild to severe. Dealing with a depressed friend, coworker, or loved one can be very challenging. This article highlights three common mistakes people make when talking to someone who is struggling with depression.

When reading this article, please remember that the most important thing to do to help someone out of depression is to believe the person's value and abilities.

Things to avoid saying:

1. "You should see a counselor.", "You need to see a counselor.", or something similar.

Counselors, whether psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, school counselors, or other types of life coaches can be very helpful for dealing with depression. However, suggesting that someone see a counselor is not always the best way to help a person, and these two statements are some of the worst possible ways to suggest that a person see a counselor. Statements containing the word "should" can come across as moralizing and judgmental, and often make the person they are directed at feel defensive and resistant. The statement with the word "need" is even worse as it implies that the depressed person will not be able to get better on their own. This can make the person feel more hopeless and depressed, and, if the person actually does seek counseling, it does not lay a good foundation for a good outcome of therapy.

Instead, be very cautious about bringing up the topic of therapy and counseling. If you ever feel like there is a natural way to bring up the subject, introduce it in as gentle and non-threatening a way as possible, and speak from your own personal experience. For example: "I talked to such-and-such a counselor when I was dealing with X, Y, or Z, and I found them very helpful." Remember though, not all counselors or types of therapy are right for all people, so it is best to refrain from making specific recommendations about what a person "should" do...simply share your own experience and then let the person seek out therapy on their own, when they are ready to do so.

2. "Have you ever considered medication?" or "You know there's medication for that." or "I went on / know someone who went on antidepressants and it was very helpful."

Medication for depression is a highly controversial and emotionally charged issue. Suggesting that a person go on medication can come across as dismissive, insulting, and insensitive because it can make them feel like you believe they have something fundamentally wrong with them. The basic problem with depression is that a depressed person believes, irrationally, that something is fundamentally wrong with them, so such a statement can actually make them more depressed. These statements can also may make a depressed person become angry, withdrawn, or shameful. Depressed people have very low self-image and if you make a suggestion that they go on medication, they may have thought processes like: "I am so messed up." or "I'm crazy, I'm losing my mind." or "I am hopeless, I can't get out of this rut I am in." The last thing you want to do is to make any statements to a depressed person that can fuel these statements.

Also, unlike with psychotic disorders and manic depression (bipolar disorder), the use of antidepressants to treat major or minor depression, and the use of any form of drugs to treat generalized anxiety disorder (which is related to and often co-occurs with depression) is highly controversial even within the scientific and medical community. Although there are a number of people who strongly feel that antidepressants have worked for them, there are many people who, for legitimate reasons, are cautious about ever taking these medications. There are also concerns about the benefits of antidepressants being overstated in the medical literature due to publication bias; because of the internet, many people, including depressed people, are increasingly well-educated about pharmaceuticals, and are rightfully cautious or skeptical about taking medication. If you suggest medication to such a person, you may undermine their trust in you. There are also factors that lead certain people to respond more or less well to antidepressants, and there are certain groups of people. If you are not a doctor and do not know the full medical and psychological history of the person you are talking to, then it is not your place to talk about medication. Do not bring the subject up.

3. Nothing, or agreement, in response to a depressed person's negative statements.

People who are depressed will often make negative statements about themselves, their life, their circumstances, job, people they know, or even their friends and loved ones. They speak these negative things because their mind is filled with negative thoughts. However, the act of speaking something out loud can actually solidify someone's belief, especially if they receive social reinforcement.

Sometimes people agree with the irrational negative statements that a depressed person makes, because they want to comfort the person. For example, a depressed person might be complaining about their job, and they might talk about how much of a jerk their boss and coworkers are, or they might talk about how their family doesn't care about them, or about how their job search has been fruitless. If you just listen, smile, and nod, or if you respond by affirming them, with something like "Wow, that sounds so terrible.", you may reinforce the person's negative thoughts.

Instead, quickly, assertively, and authoritatively stop them; interrupt them if necessary. Show solidarity but do so in a way that makes more objective, detached statements, with softer emotional content, and then make a positive statement. For example, if someone is complaining that their boss is being a jerk, you can say: "It sounds like your boss was putting you in a difficult situation. I think you are a strong person for being able to handle yourself well in a work environment like that." This sort of statement emphasizes a personal strength of the depressed person and will help nudge them in a more positive direction.

In summary:

Three of the most important things to avoid saying to a depressed person are (1) statements that the person "should" or "needs to" see a counselor (2) suggestions that the person go on antidepressant medications, and (3) agreement or affirmation of the person's irrational negative thoughts or statements. Instead, make statements that help the person to believe in themselves and their own ability to overcome depression.