Even The Successful Get Locked Into Failure

A very successful speaker was about to go on stage and motivate and inspire hundreds of people as he had done hundreds of times before. However, right before hitting the steps, he turned to a colleague and said, "I'd much as hell rather be fishing," as his fading scowl turned into his stock and trade million-dollar smile.

Even the successful can get stuck doing that which they despise. But if you have an open mind, are able to think freely, creatively, and see the numerous matrices that exist around you, then you hopefully won't get locked into failure.

There are many people who are locked into failure. They feel that because they have been following a certain path--with blinders in place, of course--that there is no alternative. They only see what they have been conditioned to see on a limited basis because of a lack of study. Of course, if a person puts enough work into something, over a long time--month, years--then it may be difficult if not impossible to give up on that chosen path. Let me give you an example.

Coming from the world of academia, to a degree I believed briefly that I wanted to obtain my PhD and get a fulltime teaching position at a university. And this with an initial plan twelve years ago to go back to school, obtain my BA and MA, teach six years, and then go at it on my own--which I have done. However, I was briefly enticed with the idea of getting a fulltime job because of the security it would bring my family. This happening, of course, during some financially lean times. I was also enticed because of the belief that I would enjoy the intellectually stimulating environment of the academic world. Fortunately for me, I kept my mind open, free, and clear of any such permanent thoughts.

Even though I was enticed briefly, I realized that personally and economically the path I chose twelve years ago was the right one. First, I am not employable. I considered working for a university fulltime and found it stifling, especially stifling to my plan of aiding a greater number of people through writing independent of any university, institution or academic mindset. I also realized that economically it was not feasible. I could go into depth on both of these issues but the point here is that I was able to keep my head up long enough to see the forest and not just a few trees. I didn't allow my ego or desperate need for money to distract me from keeping to the path I had chosen (believing in and following the wisdom of the intuitive / creative voice), that which in the long run would be most beneficial to me, my family, and all those I could potentially help.

Unfortunately, when one stays on an undesired path, it will eventually creep up on the stroller--five, ten, twenty, thirty years later--creating emotional turmoil and angst, the individual having a difficult time trying to decipher its cause or source because over the many years they have created a dam of lies about the wrong path being the right one, making it difficult if not impossible to break through to the truth. Not that changing paths or careers is ever easy or a road not fraught with failure. But we were never put here to merely live out our time being unchallenged and stifled in personal growth and development. And by not following the needed path, symptoms will appear, such as unexplained anxiety, depression, anger, and so on. I have seen people get thrown onto a particular path not of their choosing and stay on it merely because they had been there a while. They didn't choose to be there. They weren't excited to be there. But because they had spent five, six, seven years on that path, they stayed.

I know of a woman who believes so much in her path, has convinced herself so well that the path she is following is justified, she justifies it by getting excited, even angered when she doesn't see others on her path show the same enthusiasm for the work they share. This may happen to you. You must look honestly at your career and ask yourself whether you are defending or supporting what you have chosen to do.

I know of an entrepreneur who runs a very successful business selling a very good product that provides long-term health solutions who was attempting to get a woman to come on board as a salesperson. However, because she had been on a path for some time--one that consumed a lot of her time, mostly through schooling and training--she couldn't see the great possibilities of fulfilling her dreams by becoming a salesperson for the entrepreneur. If she had become a salesperson and took the training, the position would have allowed her to build a great income and freedom, freedom to do others things she had only dreamed of. But because she believed that if she redirected her life and followed this new path that the thirteen years of following the wrong path (my words) she was on would go to waste. She hadn't chosen the path she was on nor did she particularly enjoy the path she was on, but merely because she couldn't see changing paths because of the time-spent factor she couldn't see the forest for the trees.

My brothers and sisters don't get locked into failure.

You love to do something. Do it. You know that there is something that you would love to do. Do it. At least try it. And as you continue to try those things you see as good possibilities, eventually you will run into that something that works.

From my personal experience, I initially wanted to be a professional athlete when I was in high school. I played basketball, football, and baseball. The sport I spent the most time on was basketball. I played basketball before school; during school; after school. My freshman year I played on the freshman team, the junior varsity, and the senior varsity. I played during the summer at summer camps. I played a lot and often.

In order to become a good shooter, I'd stand at the foul line and shoot one-hundred baskets. If I didn't hit eighty percent I'd start over. I became a very good shot. I loved basketball and couldn't get enough of it. However, by the time I graduated from high school, I realized that I didn't love it enough to continue to pursue that dream. But the practice, success, and team play provided a priceless education and great experience. I changed my mind because I had found a new love: music.

Before and during high school, I had played drums in the fife and drum corps, trumpet and trombone in the high school band, but it wasn't until I turned eighteen that I discovered the guitar and Jimmy Page. I soon applied the same attitude to guitar playing that I had to basketball. I sat and listened to and learned every Led Zeppelin song. I'd spend hours and hours and hours learning chords and leads. I eventually joined a band with a keyboard friend of mine and we began playing gigs and even writing songs. However, I realized that being in a band was only a hobby not a profession for me, that there was something else that I needed to be doing.

I thought that thing was standup comedy, which I pursued for over five years, using the same hard work ethic I had used in learning and playing basketball and guitar. And the experiences, challenges, and growing that I acquired doing so was priceless. But once again, this was not where my genius, my destiny lie.

After performing for four years, I decided to go back to school and work on my writing--my first love or a love that came about the same time as music did. I remember loving to read since a child. Before adolescence I'd grab a good book, climb a tree and read for hours. I was always fascinated by the words and worlds I encountered in books. I began writing at about the age of sixteen--mostly poetry. It was poetry that helped me get through my emotional down time and my more troubled, quiet and introspective years. At the age of twenty-eight, I returned to that world to stay.

It was a long, difficult, winding path that I have followed, but not atypical. There has been many a successful person who has tried and tried and tried again before finally achieving success. Napoleon Hill, author of the famous Think and Grow Rich, spoke of how the majority of successful men didn't become so until they reached their forties and fifties. Abraham Lincoln, a case in point. As I've mentioned previously, he failed at business and politics again and again, until he found success in his late forties.

Very rarely is it ever a straight line or obvious, clean and neat, simple and straight path. If it ever is, just imagine all the neat lessons you'd be missing out on. Thank heavens for the crooked path. However, beware! You may move down a path feeling great, full of purpose, assured by all signs, signals, and feelings of giddiness that this is where you need to be. Don't get too comfortable, for a few years down the road--it may be two, three, five, seven--you may realize something is missing. You get uncomfortable again. So you go off on a tangent. You pursue another dream. You work hard, you fail, you feel frustrated, friends and acquaintances call you a loser, silly and stupid, too dumb for words. But that's OK, for each path you take teaches you something new, something important, something life changing. And that, my friend is why you are here: to change.

Personally, even though I've had forays into the computer field, entertainment, academics, and now business, each field, each move, each day presented me with priceless opportunities to learn: how to deal with difficult people on the job, be responsible, on time, honest, work hard or lose the job / work, make adjustments on the fly, learn, study, write, express myself clearly and thoroughly, come to a greater understanding of the plight of those around me, get it done on my own, self-reliance, accountability, appreciate and respect others, on and on. These are priceless lessons, knowledge, understanding that can not be bought for a price. These are the gems we take with us when we go. These are the lessons that are not taught in school and learned in books. And when the book of life closes, these are the things that people will remember us by. They won't remember our car, our house, our toys, our exotic vacations. They will remember our smile, our gestures, a wink, a nod, an act, word or action of appreciation and kindness. These are the gems that the gem builders are know for and remembered for.

Success is there. It is waiting for you, but life has set up failures, and great they may be, for your benefit, growth and education, for we come here to grow, and to take that growth in for our betterment and, most importantly, for the betterment of others. If we use them correctly, very few of our experiences are wasted but can be used as building blocks at the foundation of a successful, purposeful life. For what do we take with us when we die? Only our thoughts. Hopefully soothing, satisfying thoughts of lessons we've learned about loving and being loved. Find your genius. Give and grow.

Shock Therapy At The Columbus State Hospital

In the years prior to the late 1970's, many children suffered the indiscriminate pain of incarceration. Status offenders, the ungovernable, mentally ill, and felonious delinquent youngsters were forced to coexist in state and private run institutions. It was not uncommon for a child to be accused of a crime, denied due process of law, and then sent off to be warehoused with adults in jails and other institutions.

In 1960, at age nine, I was one of the those many children also denied due process of law and housed in the same wards with adults patients in the old Kirkbride designed Columbus State Hospital, formerly known as the Lunatic Asylum of Ohio. It was tragic that I along with many other children had to endure such a social travesty. I won't dwell on that now but will say that I saw and heard many interesting things during my stay in bedlam. One thing that greatly interested me was the use of electrical shock treatment also known as electroconvulsive therapy or ECT.

Although I never experienced electroshock therapy first hand, I met several patients who had. Thousands of patients of all ages, from the 1930's to the late 1960's, received electroshock treatments for many maladies including depression, mania, schizophrenia, and more.

While at the hospital, I became acquainted with a patient we will call Jake. Jake enjoyed telling stories about all the other crazies he had met at the hospital. He told of Ward Sixteen where the shock treatments were administered. I once visited it with an orderly who thought I might enjoy getting out for a walk. When we entered Ward Sixteen I was shocked to see the zombie- like faces staring from their cell windows as I walked down the corridor with the orderly.

When back in my ward, I asked Jake to tell me about what they did to him when he was on Ward Sixteen. He told of getting insulin coma therapy and shock therapy for his depression. He told me how they placed two metal plates on each side of his head and tightened it down. They had home bite down on something and then started the shock treatment. He said he saw lights flashing and heard sounds in his ears. His muscles clamped so tight he feared he would break.

Many years have passed since this nine-year-old boy experienced the horrors of the Columbus State Hospital. The old asylum was torn down in 1991. I don't know what happened to Jake. Maybe he was cured or maybe he suffered memory loss and killed himself as did the writer, Earnest Hemingway and some others after receiving electric shock therapy.

I don't think the final verdict is in on electroconvulsive therapy or ECT. I believe it was misused in the past and caused much damage and ruined lives. But, it is still in use today although administered in much safer ways. It has shown to be useful along with medications and is considered to be efficient in helping manic-depressive patients. Time will tell.

Depression - Alleviating the Disorder Without Depleting the Pocketbook

Depression can be simple or not. Some people go through a depressive episode after dealing with the loss of a loved one or another traumatic event. It lasts for a few days or even a few weeks, but it eventually lifts. But, some people deal with the disorder on an ongoing basis. That means they need to deal with it medically for optimal results. It takes a doctor to make a proper diagnosis of the problem and to help a patient take steps to alleviate the symptoms. Some medical conditions lead to depression. Those need examination and treatment if present. All of this costs money though. That is one reason why it is necessary to have health insurance in place.

If you are lucky enough to have health insurance in place, you are lucky. Millions of people in the United States do not. But, even for those that have health insurance, a chronic condition such as depression can be tricky. If you ever lose a job, your health insurance stops. You can get COBRA coverage, but that costs an arm, a leg, and most of the rest of your body. It might be a good time to switch to an individual policy. These policies cost less than COBRA and you can keep the policy in place even if you get another job. That means you will never be without medical insurance.

There are varieties of mood disorders that come across as depression. For proper diagnosis, you need to have a full medical work up and visit with a psychologist. As with other treatments and diagnosis, it will cost money. If you do not have medical insurance in place, you will find yourself paying off thousands in medical bills. If you deal with any potentially chronic condition, health insurance is not a luxury. It is a necessity. If you have health insurance now through your employer, you can make the decision to switch to an individual policy at any time.

Depression is no longer the disease of which no one talks. Medical experts recognize as a significant medical condition that leads to changes in mood and quality of life. It has an impact on the individual as well as those around him or her. It is important to get treatment for it. That means you need to make sure your health insurance is in place and ready to go. It is an investment in your own well being.

Health Insurance - SSRIs and Antidepressants

Prozac is in a group of medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medications are all antidepressants. They are used to treat symptoms of depression. They can also be combined with other medications to tread manic depression, or bipolar disorder. Prozac is prescribed in pill form. A patient taking Prozac may be at risk if they are also taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or other types of medications. Severe to fatal side effects can occur if Prozac is combined with other medications. It's important to tell your doctor what you're taking if he suggests you be treated with Prozac. This includes over the counter medications, like aspirin, cough medicine and even lozenges.

While taking Prozac, you should alert your doctor if you're pregnant or at risk for conceiving. He will likely have a pregnancy test done to make sure that you're not pregnant before administering the medication. If you are pregnant, your doctor may still advice you to take Prozac. It can cause harm to unborn fetuses, but stopping your medication altogether is risky, especially while pregnant. If you are uncomfortable taking Prozac while pregnant, talk to your doctor about alternative treatments for your depression or bipolar disorder.

Since Prozac is primarily used to treat mental disorders, you may have difficulty getting your health insurance to pay for the treatment and/or the medication. It's important that you talk to your healthcare insurance provider before you commit to being treated with Prozac. If your insurance provider does not cover treatment of metal disorders, you have two options. You can either pay out of pocket, or you can find secondary insurance. If you have a healthcare reimbursement account or a healthcare savings account, it is possible you can use the money inside to pay for treatment. Talk to your employer about what is covered in your HRA. If the treatment is covered, provide the necessary documentation so that you can be reimbursed for your services.

If you're seeking secondary health insurance to help cover the cost of your disorder, remember to keep it affordable. If you are doubly insured, talk to both of your providers to see how much of the cost is defrayed by your insurance plans. If neither insurance plans cover mental illnesses nor prescription costs, it is possible to talk to your doctor about a payment plan. It is also possible to get your prescriptions at a discount.

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.

Anxiety and Depression Symptoms - 4 Ways it Effects the Psyche

Stress and anxiety can become a part of every day life as we deal with challenges at work and home. When these two aspects are combined, great psychological difficulties can occur. When left untreated, it is likely to escalate and manifest into severe deterioration of your mental well being. Here are some anxiety and depression symptoms and 4 ways it can effect your psyche.

Depersonalization
Depersonalization is a feeling of detachment, with the sensation of being separated from the situation, and sometime even feeling as though there is a separation from the body itself. You may feel as if you are 'unreal' and no longer exist as a person. You may even feel that you have become invisible and those around you are real, but you are not. Some describe it as feeling like a robot and no longer like a human being. Depersonalization tends to happen immediately after the onset of a panic attack, during an attack or with other severe anxiety symptoms. Once depersonalization has been experienced, it is likely that it will occur more frequently and will be triggered more easily.

Derealization
Derealization, like depersonalization is caused by a shift in the part of the brain that provides us with a 'real' awareness of our environment. This part of the brain is directly linked to the organ that is responsible for anxiety, the amygdala. In the case of derealization, that which seems to be unreal is your surroundings. At times, you may feel as if reality is no longer something you can fully grasp. You may even question the existence of things and wonder if life itself is a dream of some type. This symptom can be described as being inside a bubble or trying to see everything through a curtain or thick fog. However, as anxiety levels are reduced, derealization will also disappear.

Nightmares
Of all anxiety and depression symptoms, nightmares are not uncommon. Nightmares can be caused by excessive stress, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and certain medications such as antidepressants. They can be described as dreams in which terrible and traumatic events take place and can feel so real that some wake up feeling the physical symptoms of anxiety; sweating, rapid heart beats, tremors and fear. Some of the most common anxiety induced dreams are of falling, being chased, losing teeth and being naked in public.

Automatic Negative Thoughts
Automatic negative thoughts are a component of stress induced anxiety. They are the kind of thoughts that instantly follow a presented situation, such as a short notice meeting scheduled for the next day. Anxiety sufferers may automatically think that they won't be prepared for it and it will be a disaster, regardless of the meeting's importance or subject matter. Stress induced anxiety sufferers may additionally act on these thoughts unconsciously. For example, if one says that they will fail a test, then it is likely they will not study hard enough and fail the test.

Anxiety and depression symptoms can be seriously debilitating and wreak havoc on our lives. Not only do they effect us psychologically, they can do great damage to our physical and emotional well being. Fortunately, there is help for the depressed and anxiety stricken. If you or someone you know is affected with this condition, it is highly recommended to seek out the proper treatment in order to cope with these symptoms

Type 2 Diabetes and Knowing What Depression Symptoms Are

If you have type 2 diabetes you need to know what depression symptoms are so that you can effectively manage both and achieve a healthy normal life once more. Sadly diabetes and depression are conditions that are related to each other. With type 2 diabetes you are at a higher risk of getting depression.

It is important to realise that depression can become worse when the complications of diabetes get worse. When you become depressed it is harder to be able to manage your disease properly and if you are not careful it can lead to the development of long-term complications like neuropathy, retinopathy or nephropathy.

Many people do not realise they have depression and it can go undetected by yourself and your doctor, especially if you do not converse with your doctor about how you are feeling, depression is not something that is not easily visible to the next person.

Depression is where your everyday activities become too overwhelming and this can be dangerous if you have type 2 diabetes because you will not manage your disease properly, for instance not eating properly, not getting any exercise, and forgetting to take you medications. Fatigue is another problem and the lack of enthusiasm to do anything is a major problem. Your emotions with depression can become non-existent and can cause you anxiety, sadness and unfortunately even suicide.

Knowing what the symptoms are of depression is crucial for you to manage your diabetes effectively; following is a list to help you understand what it's all about:

• A feeling of sadness for long periods of time


• A feeling of being hopeless, worthless or even helpless


• Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed


• Loss of concentration


• Unable to remember things like you used to


• A feeling of anxiety, restlessness for no reason at all


• Lack of a good night's sleep


• Loss of energy or fatigue, always being tired


• Loss of appetite, and


• Thoughts about suicide and death

It is advisable to consult your doctor if you feel you have depression, it can be treated with medication, however you need to make sure that it does not cause you any complications as some medications can pay havoc with your blood glucose levels.

Research has shown that people with depression will have less physical and mental functions, which can lead to not following their required diet or medication plans. This can lead to very serious problems when you have diabetes.

If you have type 2 diabetes it is essential that you know what the symptoms are for depression so that you can take control and avoid the complications that are associated with diabetes.

Five Signs That You May Be Bipolar

Chances are if you're reading this article, you think you or your loved one is bipolar. One can only know for sure if they have bipolar disorder by seeing a licensed medical professional. While awaiting medical help, you can view this list to see if you have some of the common bipolar symptoms.

Five signs that you may have bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression:

1. Experiencing mood swings. Mood swings are the most common symptom of bipolar disorder as it is known as a mood disorder. If you have mood swings going from down to happy and back again frequently, you could have bipolar disorder.

2. Having suicidal thoughts. If you have suicidal thoughts, you could be suffering from the depression side of bipolar disorder. If you have other symptoms as well as suicidal thoughts at times, you could have bipolar disorder.

3. Racing thoughts. In the midst of bipolar mania, racing thoughts are common. If you're feeling restless and as though you can't concentrate because your mind is racing, this could be a sign that you have manic depression.

4. Acting impulsively. Another symptom of bipolar mania is acting impulsively and without thinking things through. If you get more impulsive at times, sometimes to your detriment, you could be bipolar.

5. Lose of interest. When a person has bipolar depression, they sometimes lose interest in things they were once excited about. This includes hobbies, sex and relationships. If you find yourself in this situation without much explanation, consider talking with a doctor for a diagnosis.

After you've read these five signs, you may find that most of them fit what you're experiencing. I would like to reiterate that the best way to know you have manic depression is to see a qualified therapist.