Lethargy - Symptoms, Causes and Remedies

Well, I am sure we all have bouts of what we think of as lethargy [means feelings of lack of energy, drowsiness or tiredness], we love to spend a day doing nothing but veg., mainly on the couch watching TV, only getting up for bathroom breaks and to feed a grumbling stomach. Take note this is just the way our bodies get us to slow down after a hard week at work and get a good day of rest under our belt. Actually, lethargy has a few serious causes, which I will touch on after giving you the symptoms that go with this problem.

Symptoms

* Change in appetite - the person will tend to be too lazy to eat and will just pick at his or her food
* Change in bowels movements - due to being inactive the bowels will also become sluggish
* Difficulty in concentrating - unable to focus for any length of time
* Fatigue - always wanting to lie down
* Difficulty in performing daily chores - usual daily tasks seem impossible to do
* Aches and pains - generally all over
* Problems with falling asleep - though tired will lay awake for hours while trying to go to sleep
* Inactive - finds exercise uninteresting and is to fatigued to do any
* Sluggish - body feels heavy, especially the arms and legs
* Lack of interest - no interest shown in anything that would normally interest the person

Causes

1) Depression - one of the main causes of this problem
2) High blood pressure
3) Low blood pressure
4) Head injury
5) Alcohol abuse
6) Drug abuse
7) Diabetes
8) Constipation
9) Poor nutrition
10) Thyroid gland disorders
11) Adrenal gland problems
12) Measles
13) Mononucleosis

Remedies and suggestions

* Herbal teas - especially tea made from basil
* Sprouts - ensure they fast at least once every second week and only consume fresh sprouts on that day
* Citrus - grapefruit and lemon juice mixed in equal portions should be sipped through-out the day
* Encourage the patient to do exercises that are more regular
* Get some natural sleeping pills
* Avoid alcohol during this period
* Ensure they get a healthy balanced diet at this time and try getting them to actually eat

Lethargy is nothing to scoff at and could become a serious problem, if you feel that depression is the main problem here, please contact your doctor for advice or take the patient to see him. Depression needs medical treatment as soon as one suspects the condition. The patient may even need to get some sleep therapy to get them through this phase.

How to Interpret Depression Signs

There is no cure for depression! Did you know that when depressed people take antidepressants these will only work completely in about 35% of cases? That means there are a lot of people who will only get partial relief and that the condition will linger on for years. That figure compares very unfavourably with the effect of a placebo which relieves signs of depression in about 20%. Another figure which is quite shocking is that about 5% of cases have a worsening of symptoms when they are on these depression meds. Experts are now looking at changes in lifestyle which can make a positive impact on depression but will certainly not cure the condition. How can we interpret depression signs and realise that we may have a problem or that a loved one may be depressed?

It seems that genetics, chemical imbalances in the brain and the environment all play a role in the cause of depression but nobody is quite sure. Signs of depression will be noticed when they persist for quite a long period and we are certainly talking about a period of two weeks to a month here. We might also notice that the depression signs seem to be preventing us from functioning at work or at home like we used to.

Depression signs are evident when there is a loss of energy to do things and a lack of concentration too. There may be a problems with indigestion and or problems with eating which can manifest itself in a loss of appetite or an increase in appetite for no apparent reason. Add to that weepiness (usually present in women) and a loss of interest in any sexual activity. Other depression signs which are even more alarming are talk of suicide or constantly thinking about death in an obsessive way. There may be a tendency to self mutilate which could be a precursor of suicide. If only some of these are present, we should seek medical help and also have other conditions ruled out which could and sometimes do have similar symptoms.

We now know that depression is such a common disorder that there is less stigma attached to it nowadays, fortunately. Experts tell us that Americans are ten times more likely to suffer from a depressive disorder of some sort than our grandparents were, sixty years ago. These disorders can range from bipolar to SAD (seasonal affective disorder).

Once signs of depression have been spotted and diagnosis has been carried out, we can start thinking about treatment. Antidepressants are one choice but as we have seen above, there is no guarantee that they will work and some people favour herbal remedies such as St. John's Wort and the Passion Flower which have much fewer side effects and will be more effective than the antidepressants in some patients.

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Writer

What do Ernest Hemingway, Jack London and Virginia Woolf have in common - besides being famous writers? They all committed suicide. This is just the short list, too. Even the "Top Ten" list of famous literary suicides barely scratches the surface. As a breed, creative writers seem to be particularly suicide prone. Why?

Readers, swept away by the beauty, intelligence and poignancy of a great novel or poem, wonder how anyone so creative would even contemplate suicide. Wouldn't someone with such penetrating insight into the human condition possess the detached brilliance of the Buddha? Wouldn't their fame and the accolades they receive from their admirers be enough to buoy their spirits? Is the solitary nature of the vocation responsible for all the tragic deaths?

Psychologists believe they may have the answer to the question: in a word, it's depression. A disproportionate number of creative writers have been diagnosed as manic depressive. In fact, the renowned poet, Anne Sexton, took up writing on the advice of her therapist, who felt it would be a good outlet for her. That was in 1956. She quickly began to receive accolades for her brilliant work, finally receiving the Pulitzer Prize in 1967, only ten years after she began writing. Seven years later, still at the pinnacle of her career, she committed suicide.

Manic Depression, today more commonly referred to as Bipolar Disorder, is characterized by violent mood swings. In artists, a burst of creative energy is followed by a period of intense self-criticism. Some psychologists suggest that it is this very combination that makes creative writing the natural career choice for manic-depressives. They follow a feverish round of creative activity with an equally intense round of proof-reading, editing and perfecting their original work.

Fortunately for writers everywhere, depression is not a requirement for the job. While writing does attract more than its fair share of suicides, the majority of writers live until a ripe old age. Such was the case with the brilliant British novelist, Alan Sillitoe. Sillitoe was at the forefront of the "Angry Young Men" writing movement in the 1950s. Two of his early novels, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner were made into films. A true "working class hero," Sillitoe exposed the cruelty of a social system that relentlessly punishes the vast majority of its workers - the very people who are the backbone of industry. Alan Sillitoe died on the 25th of April, 2010 at the age of 82.

J.D. Salinger, author of The Catcher in the Rye, also died recently. Often called the most influential writer of the 20th century, Salinger was also one of the most enigmatic. At the height of his fame, he retreated into virtual seclusion and shunned the limelight for the rest of his life. He was neither depressed nor suicidal: he just liked his privacy, as do most writers. This tendency towards introversion characterizes the writer's life much better than the more newsworthy tendency towards depression or suicide.

Whether battling with their inner demons, like Sexton or Hemingway, communing with angels like William Blake or exploring the Human Comedy like Balzac, writers share a common need for solitude. This is sometimes hard for more extroverted types to understand and they often assume that all writers must spend their lives wallowing in loneliness and despair. This is a misconception. The list of writers, famous or otherwise, who live long and fulfilling lives is much longer than the list of those who have committed suicide. Most writers consider their profession to be a calling rather than a chosen career. The pay is lousy, the chances for success slim, but the rewards that come from answering the call are great.

Is Your Child Having Drug Problems? Using the Right Family Health Care and Medical Insurance

If you notice signs of drug/substance abuse with your child, the first thing you need to do is to create a very loving and friendly environment for discussing the problem. You need to discuss your concerns with your child in a kind manner. Making a child with drug problems to speak, or preferably, say the truth is a serious task. So, you as a parent will need to be patient and exercise a great deal of wisdom. There are many reason why children abuse drugs. Below are some of the most common reasons:

Keeping Wrong Friends and Peer Pressure:

It is a statement of fact that if a child plays with a wrong company, that company can seriously and negatively affect the behavior of the child. As parents, try as much as possible to know the company your child keeps by making it OK and friendly for them to come over to the house occasionally.

Stress:

No doubt, the pressure to succeed these days is much. Also, unknowingly, parents contribute by pushing their children a little bit too far on what they believe should be achieved. As parents, you should know the strengths and weaknesses of your child, you should set reasonable goals for the child and help in achieving these goals. Also, avoid making disparaging comparisons. Such comparisons are known to crush children's self esteem which in-turn results to depression.

Behavioral Limits and Boundaries:

Some children abuse drugs and other substances simply because their parents let them run wild. It is true that children appreciate strict behavioral limits despite the protests they put up most times. These limits gives them a more feeling of security and love. Parents should learn how to make their Yes be Yes and No, No!

How can you afford the treatment charges needed for a child with drug problems and/or how can you afford the fees needed to get quality check-ups on your child periodically by a medical professional? Easy, make use of the right family health care and medical insurance protection in the state you live. This is the surest way to help you deal with the financial challenges involved in keeping your child drug free and providing treatment where necessary. Start by comparing free quotes on family health insurance now.

Four Lessons From the TITANIC That Can Prepare You to Face Any Disaster in Life

It was just before noon on April 10th, 1912 as the RMS Titanic sailed from its dock in Southampton. The crew and passengers aboard were excited about making the historic voyage across the North Atlantic Ocean from England to America. However, no-one could have imagined that the ship that "God himself could not sink", would end in such a disaster. In recent years the Titanic has captured the imagination of many people as Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet brought the story to life in the award winning Hollywood blockbuster. While working through life's difficult situations we can draw inspiration from many different stories throughout the pages of history. In this article we will explore one of the world's best known shipping disasters, the story of the RMS TITANIC.

The story of the Titanic is the sad account of how the biggest ship ever built at the time (883 feet long, 92 feet wide, and 64 feet high from the keel to the upper surface of the weather deck) collided with an iceberg that perforated the hull just below the water line. Approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes later the ship sunk below the icy water of the North Atlantic.

Three Big Questions for a Big Ship
As a result of the Titanic sinking, two separate inquiries were launched, one by the British and the other by Americans. The investigators asked three powerful questions, "Why did this disaster happen?", "What can we learn?" and "How can we prevent a similar disaster?"

Why Did the Disaster Happen?
The first question that people usually ask when a disaster strikes is, "Why did it happen?" When this question was asked about the Titanic, the blame was pointed at five different people. The first was Captain E. J. Smith, who ignored several iceberg warnings and did not order the ship to reduce speed. The second was the ship's builder because he had apparently used iron rivets that were not strong enough and did not withstand the impact of the iceberg when it struck. Bruce Ismay the Managing Director of the White Star Line was the third person who was blamed because it was believed that he encouraged Captain Smith to maintain the ships' dangerous speed. Thomas Andrews the ships' architect was also blamed because he had designed the sixteen watertight compartments with insufficient height in the walls. The final blame was pointed toward Captain Stanley Lord who had his ship, the Californian, located near the Titanic, but did not respond to the emergency flares as he decided that the flares were related to celebrations on board the Titanic.

The Negative Power of 'Why'
One of the first reactions that we have when we face a difficult situation is to ask ourselves, "Why am I going through this?" The reason we ask "Why?" is to satisfy the unquenchable need to interpret the meaning behind events that are happening around us. The "why" question is like a two edged sword, it can produce constructive feedback and positive feelings, or it can produce destructive and irrational thoughts that pull you down. If you are in a negative mental state and you ask, "Why is this happening to me?" Possible responses could include:

• "Because God hates me"


• "Because I'm a failure"


• "Because I attract disaster"


• "Because the whole world is against me"


• "Because other people don't care about me"


• "Because I'm useless"

All of the above answers indicate a negative mental state with thoughts that can't be backed up by any hard evidence. These types of thoughts are called irrational thoughts because they defy any form of logic. As a result of this type of thinking, a person will feel depressed, worthless, hopeless, and have no motivation to seek possible solutions. There are other questions worth asking. Questions that can give people a sense of hope, but first let's look at how the 'why' question can be used in a positive way.

The Positive Power of Knowing Why
One of the positive outcomes from asking the "why" question is that it can help us to avoid future disasters. Many successful people such as Henry Ford, Walt Disney, Debbie Reynolds, Larry King, and Donald Trump have experienced negative experiences in their lifetime. Each of these people learned from their experiences and pressed forward to new heights of success. If you are in the middle of a difficult situation the "why" question can be used to learn from any mistakes and move forward.

Two Questions that can fill you with Hope
There are two questions that can help you focus on solutions and move forward. These questions are WHAT and HOW. Here are some examples of how these questions can be used to help you feel more inspired.

WHAT

• "What am I grateful for?"


• "What can I learn from this problem?"


• "What can I do to turn this situation around?"


• "What is the next logical step for me?"


• "What do I do after that?"

HOW

• "How can I manage the next step?"


• "How can I accelerate the process?"


• "How can I make the process more enjoyable?"


• "How could things be different if I took this action?"


• "How can handle this situation better?"

Asking these questions gives you valuable information to hopefully avoid similar disasters in the future, learn from any mistakes, regain confidence and plan your way forward.

How can a Similar Disaster be Prevented?
After investigators asked "What?" and "How?" they made the following recommendations to the shipping industry. These four recommendations offer some very practical advice and can be used to help us manage the difficult circumstances that we might experience in our own lives.

Sufficient Lifeboats
The first recommendation that investigators made was to have sufficient lifeboats on all ships. The Titanic had approximately 2214 passengers on board but only enough lifeboats for 1,178 people. A sad fact of the disaster is that only 705 passengers and crew survived, as many of the lifeboats were not filled to capacity.

The lesson here is to build support processes into your life. Anything that inspires you and gives you emotional support can be seen as a lifeboat. Having the support of friends, having spiritual guidance, reading inspirational books, listening to music, playing sport, pursuing hobbies, or having an interest in activities such as travelling, are all examples of personal lifeboats.

A common mistake that many people make is to rely on just one lifeboat. The danger is that if anything happens to their one lifeboat, they won't have any emotional support and can easily fall into depression. An example that I recently heard of was a woman named Carla (not her real name). Carla was devoted to playing a particular sport; however she had a bad accident and injured her knee. When Carla was told that the injury would take 6 month's to heal, she burst into tears because it meant that she would not be able to play her beloved sport. Carla had lost the one activity in her life that brought her joy. Similarly a man named Kevin who was devoted to reading, had a severe stroke which left him half blind. Being unable to read he felt depleted of the very activity that he drew strength from. A solution to this problem is to cultivate several sources of enjoyment. If one activity is suddenly removed, you can draw upon the other sources to keep you afloat.

Safety Drills
The second recommendation was that all crew and passengers participate in safety drills. Even though hitting an iceberg was a very real risk during their journey, the crew onboard the Titanic did not have the adequate training to handle an accident of this magnitude. When you are in the middle of a stressful situation your automatic response will be to do what you are most familiar with. You do what is second nature. Safety drills give people the opportunity to experience the same hazardous situations over and over until the right response becomes second nature.

With this in mind, what are some of the activities in your life that need to be second nature? What needs to be a routine part of your life? To answer this question you need to examine all the different aspects of your life. The areas of your life that need to be continually maintained include physical health and fitness, emotional wellbeing, intellectual stimulation, spiritual renewal, and relational support. Examining all these aspects of our lives, here is a list of some things that have become second nature to me:

• Maintaining a healthy diet


• Scheduling exercise throughout my week


• Having a laugh every day


• Playing Sudoku


• Taking time out to enjoy a hobby


• Spending quality time with my wife


• Enjoying activities with friends

These activities have become second nature to me and have helped me to handle many crisis situations. The key to maintaining a healthy life balance is consistency. Small activities that are performed every daily are the key to staying afloat during the toughest of times.

Ship Radios Need to be Manned Full Time

A third recommendation was that all ship radios be manned 24 hours a day. Passengers onboard the Titanic could have been saved if the radio operator on-board the Californian had been manning the radio and heard the distress calls. Communication is vital to all successful endeavours in life. When America undertook military intervention in both Afghanistan and Iraq, the first thing that the army targeted was the communication networks. This shows the importance that communication plays.

The lesson we can learn here is to stay in contact with other people. When a crisis comes your way, who can you call for advice? Here are a few tips to maintain healthy communication channels and develop friendships:

• Develop friendships around interests such as sports or hobbies.


• Remember important dates such as anniversaries and birthdays.


• Learn to listen to people without interrupting them.


• Use eye contact when you are with people.


• Schedule regular meetings with your closest friends.


• Have your friends call you regularly during times you are experiencing pressure.


• Say sorry to those you have wronged.


• Speak encouraging words to everyone you come into contact with.


• Enlist the help of a counsellor, life coach or other support person.

Here are some quotes that illustrate the importance of relationships:

"My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me."

- Henry Ford

"What makes loneliness an anguish is not that I have no one to share my burden, but this: I have only my own burden to bear."

- Dag Hammarskjold

"A friend is one who walks in when others walk out"

-Walter Winchell

"The better part of one's life consists of his friendships."

- Abraham Lincoln

Maintain open and honest communication with key people in your life so they can support you during times of need. The worst thing you can do is to smile and pretend everything is OK. A fake impression won't help you. Stay honest with the key people in your life and don't feel too proud to send out a distress call.

Reduce Speed in Icy or Foggy Conditions

One of the first things that the investigation uncovered was that speed played a major part in the disaster. Collision with the iceberg could have been avoided if the RMS Titanic had been travelling at a much slower speed. Hence, the last recommendation from the inquiry was that ships should use a much slower speed while travelling in icy or foggy conditions.

Foggy conditions can be seen as symbolic of times in our life that we are not thinking clearly. When you are overwhelmed by events that are happening around you it is unwise to make rash decisions because the high levels of stress limit your thinking processes. The lesson here is to allow yourself time to process important decisions while you are in the middle of a crisis. Seek out friends for advice before taking any major action.

Summary
As we have seen there are many things we can do to help manage difficult situations. We have discussed the power of asking the right sort of questions, with 'what?' and 'how?' being the most effective. We then looked at four lessons to help us through difficult times. These included:

• Having a variety of things in place to provide emotional support


• Implementing routines to maintain a healthy life balance


• Having healthy relationships and open communication and....


• Taking time to make important decisions during crisis times

P.S. The Worst Thing You Can Do in the Middle of a Disaster
There is one last lesson that we can learn from the Titanic disaster, "Denying the reality of a crisis won't keep your ship afloat". A mindset of denial such as, "Everything is OK, this ship is unsinkable", won't make the situation any better. Denial creates a blind spot that can lead a person right into disaster. The problem gambler says, "I'm OK, I'll win it all back, I just need to take one more risk, this time is the big one". Then he finds himself kicked out on the street with a broken marriage, bankrupt, with no sense of hope for the future. This is the result of a blind spot that he had created by denying the fact that he had a problem with gambling. If the crew of the Titanic had taken responsibility to evacuate the passengers in a quick and orderly manner, instead of acting in denial, many more people could have been saved from an icy death.

Clinical Signs of Teenage Depression in Teenage Girls

Clinical signs of depression in teenage girls can be hard to recognize and decipher based on normal expressions and actions most teenage girls exhibit from day to day. But, with teenage suicide in girls on the rise, parents must remain alert and never take anything for granted. Teenage depression is real and can be serious.

As hard as teenage depression is to recognize, it's harder still for the teen to cope with. The majority of teenage girls who experience severe depression and don't receive help often have a much higher chance of falling in with the wrong crowd, failing in school, getting involved in drugs, becoming promiscuous and attempting suicide.

Additionally, teenagers who experience depression and don't receive help may retain some portion of the illness for the remainder of their lives. Recognizing the clinical signs of depression in teenage girls and obtaining medical help for those who exhibit these signs should be the focus of every parent of every teenage girl.

Clinical Signs Of Depression In Teenage Girls

The clinical signs of depression in teenage girls often border on everyday emotions, but, if the following signs persist for more than a week, you and your daughter should visit a doctor:

Social Awkwardness And Isolation: When a teenage girl finds herself unable to blend into social engagements without feelings of inferiority, she becomes vulnerable to depression. Peer pressure and the fear of rejection are extremely difficult on teenagers. Teens who are socially awkward tend to avoid social situations. Her loss of interest might indicate that she feels like an outcast or thinks she is unworthy of love.

Sadness, Death And Thoughts Of Suicide: Teen girls seem to have a hard time dealing with sadness and issues pertaining to death. A death in the family can cause a teen girl to slip into depression as quickly as can the death of a pet or the loss of a friendship or breaking up with a boyfriend. If your child seems sad or withdrawn or has suicidal thoughts, pay attention and seek medical help.

Low Self-Esteem: Often when teenage girls become depressed, they are accepted into groups that also seem to be dysfunctional on some level or are involved in drugs and promiscuous behavior. When this happens, she may feel this type of group is the only kind of love she is capable of receiving or worthy of receiving.

Anxiety, Anger, Irritability And Despair: These are classic signs of depression. Documenting your child's mood swings can be as time-consuming as it can be monotonous, but, if your child won't open up to you, this may be the only way to understand what might be going on inside your child's head. If your child throws tantrums, becomes hostile and/or cannot seem to control her emotions, you may be looking at the first indications of depression.

Poor Performance And Poor Concentration: School grades can decline as concentration and focus becomes scattered.

Disrupted Sleep Patterns, Ill Health And Loss of Energy: Whenever sleep patterns are disrupted, signs of fatigue generally follow. Complaints of headaches, stomachaches and other physical ailments may also be heard.

Loss Of Appetite: Not eating or binge eating can occur.

Guilt: Overwhelming feelings of guilt or hopelessness may also be indicators that your child needs intervention.

Because each child is different and because there are often outside influences and precursors to this disease, such as genetics and peer pressure, never take anything for granted. Because genetics plays a part in this equation, if you or your spouse or someone else in the family has experienced some form of depression, your child may be genetically wired for some of the same illnesses. Therefore, if your child exhibits any of these signs or engages in behaviors unusual for her, seek the advice of your child's physician.

Coping With Depression

The first and most important thing to do when you suspect some form of depression in you child is to seek medical attention. A trained professional can tell you what signs to look for and when these signs are indicative of an illness.

In order to learn when issues are too much for your daughter to handle, pay attention to her mood swings and learn from her emotional outbursts or moments of isolation. A child who suddenly becomes quiet and seeks safe harbor in her room may be dealing with overwhelming issues that might welcome your input. And whenever a teenage girl becomes obsessed with death or experiments with any form of mutilation to her own body such as cutting or burning herself it's time for you to obtain professional help.

Ways To Prevent Depression In Teen Girls

Parents are placed in a tough spot. The average adult isn't trained to recognize the signs of depression in teenage girls, and sometimes the signs are so minute even parents who are sensitive to their daughter's personality don't see depression for what it is. The best way to understand there's something going on with your daughter is to know your daughter as well as you can. Keep the family close-knit by engaging in activities together as a family, but also set aside time for just you and your daughter. Moms who spend time shopping with their daughter or enjoying other activities together often form a strong connection.

Also, daughters can and should bond with their fathers. As the father of a teenage girl, you can bond in the same way she and her mother bonded, or you can find other ways to spend time together. For instance, take on the responsibility of teaching your daughter to drive. In the process, teach her the mechanics of a car how to fix a tire, how to change the oil and how to pump gas, or spend time with her while teaching her about one of your own personal hobbies. Share of yourself with her, and most of the time she will share of herself with you in return. A teenage girl who has someone to open up to when she has a problem will already have a defense mechanism in place when problems soar. Another teenage girl who does not have this mechanism in place will have a harder time dealing with issues and may end up becoming seriously depressed.

A Typical Manic Depression Symptom is the Need For Speed

Like times when you have a wild assortment of ideas. Then there are other days, weeks, and months were you don't want to get out of bed. One manic depression symptom is evidenced by the inability to sleep. Another is that you begin to notice that you can become irritable almost without provocation, and you don't think anyone is listening to your great, if not somewhat far fetched, ideas.

If you are prone to starting many projects and unable to complete any of them, and then seemingly out of the blue you are apathetic to those same projects, you maybe experiencing a manic depression symptom. Manic depression symptoms are triggered by an imbalance of the chemicals in your brain that keep you from over or under reacting. During a manic phase, which can last weeks and even years, you are highly functioning in your job, especially if you are in the position to delegate.

This is very important to know, because as we've said, completing the projects yourself can get difficult. Not because you don't want to, but because the ideas are coming so fast that you can't keep up with them. You are the life of the party and enjoy going out and probably spend a lot of money. Then comes the crash. The depression side takes over and all of a sudden you don't feel like doing anything.

Jobs are lost, apathy abounds, and life has no meaning. You may even consider suicide, but even you couldn't really say as to why. This is a manic depression symptom as well. Unfortunately, because the two sides of the illness often don't show themselves within weeks and so go largely undiagnosed as the actual illness. You may see your doctor regarding the sleeplessness during a manic episode, but don't know that the depression episodes are part of the same illness.

Without complete information, most cases go misdiagnosed.