Archive for the ‘Depression’ Category

Depression – Do You Suffer From Depression Disorder?

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

How do you know if you suffer from depression disorder? Well, you need to be properly diagnosed by a doctor or psychiatrist to be certain. However, in order to do that you must first suspect that you might be suffering from depression disorder. This will lead you to see your doctor and get her opinion.

Depression is a mental disorder that is becoming much more common these days. It is normally treated with antidepressants by doctors. Psychotherapy is also used and a combination of the two treatments might be the best approach that yields the best results.

The symptoms of depression that you can look out for may include chronic fatigue, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, constant sadness, thoughts about death or suicide, trouble sleeping or oversleeping, loss of interest in your daily activities and despair.

These are just a few general symptoms and you really should discuss your symptoms with a medical professional. Your doctor can also do some tests to rule out any physical causes for your depression symptoms such as an underlying illness or deficiency.

If you suffer from depression you will know how hard it is to gather up the courage to get up out of bed in the morning and face the day. It is therefore vital to have a clear picture of what you need to do each day. This will help your foggy mind to focus on something specific to do instead of just being confused by negative thoughts and fears. Being active everyday is an important step. This includes exercise. Go walking, jumping or kicking at least 3 times per week to make your body feel better. This will have a positive impact on your mental health as well, however small.

You can also read books or magazines to keep your mind occupied. I have found that reading inspirational books can have a inspiring effect for a short while. Keep a good book next to your bed so you can read a little every day.

I have also began to learn zen meditation. This practice calms my mind and allows me to find a little peace and sanctuary from my often racing and negative thought patterns. This is also a mental and spiritual exercise that helps me to master my own awareness.

It is important to learn how to manage your symptoms and thoughts and to continue living your life. Crawling into a corner and hoping to die is not constructive. You should not give up yet. After depression there is still a lot of life left to live.

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Bipolar Disorder and Manic Depression Explained

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression is a mental illness in which an individual alternates between states of deep depression and extreme euphoria. However, Bipolar or manic-depressive illness is much more complex than just alternating between depression and elation. Bipolar disorder affects thoughts, feelings, perceptions, behavior and even affects how a person feels physically (known clinically as Psychosomatic Presentations). Bipolar disorder has been subcategorized as Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Bipolar NOS, and Cylcothymia, depending on the type and severity of the mood episodes experienced.

The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (commonly known as the DSM-IV because it is in its fourth major edition) indicates that Bipolar Disorder is defined by the occurrence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood (clinically known as mania) or mixed episodes often accompanied by depressive episodes. These episodes are commonly separated by periods of “normal” mood, but in some cases, depression and mania may rapidly alternate (rapid cycling). Extreme manic episodes may lead to psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.

Bipolar Symptoms

Mania/Hypomania:

Mania often begins with a sense of heightened energy, creativity, and social ease; these feelings can quickly progress to an extreme and continuous elevated mood involving an exaggerated sense of self-esteem and/or irritable mood. When in this state, individuals become more physically active, talkative, easily distracted, and show a reduced need for sleep. In most cases, people aren’t aware that anything is wrong and may also enjoy the feeling mania brings. Judgment becomes impaired resulting in greater risk-taking behavior including overspending and sexual activity. In sever cases, the person may also hallucinate or become delusional; this is known as a psychotic episode.

Depression:

Depressive symptoms are intense, pervasive, persistent. Feelings may include:

  •   despair
  •   hopelessness
  •   frustration
  •   anger
  •   irritability
  •   worthlessness
  •   guilt
  •   loss of energy
  •   limited interest in normal activities
  •   changes in weight
  •   difficulties with sleep
  •   slowed thinking
  •   difficulty in making simple decisions
  •   and in serious cases, thought of suicide

Bipolar Treatment

There is not one simple answer to treating Bipolar disorder. Effective treatment for bipolar disorder is a combination of many things.

  •   Education: Understanding bipolar disorder is essential. Individuals must educate themselves of its general signs and symptoms so they can better identify and understand their moods. Learning about treatment and triggers is a critical part of illness self-management. With this knowledge, people with Bipolar disorder and their families are better equipped to prevent future relapses.
  •  Medication: Bipolar disorder is a recurrent illness, and therefore, people require medication as a form of long term treatment. Most people need a number of medications to manage their symptoms and maintain wellness. Finding the right “cocktail” of medications can take several months, or even several years, before finding a successful combination. It is crucial that this process is closely monitored and discussed with a psychiatrist. There may be a strong urge to discontinue use of medication when feeling better; the majority of the time this behaviour leads to a relapse. The main categories of medication used include the following: mood stabilizers, anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, and anti-anxiety medication.
  •   Psychotherapy & Support Groups Psychotherapy and support groups are highly recommended, especially during the first year or two following diagnosis; this, in combination with medication greatly increases your chances of finding a stable healthy life style. Both professional and peer support provide insight in the form of personal stories, effective treatments, and coping strategies. Knowing you are not alone is effective treatment in itself.

Bipolar and Stigma Many people delay seeking help and treatment for bipolar disorder because they fear being labeled as crazy, dangerous, or even contagious; they fear what friends, family, and employers might think. There is still a social stigma attached to having a mental illness, but social attitudes are gradually changing. One of the most challenging aspects of stigma, following diagnosis, is self-stigma. This internal stigma results in believing devaluing attitudes and blaming oneself for the illness. Some strategies to counteract stigma include better understanding what stigma is and how it affects people, as well as sharing experiences and coping strategies within peer support groups.

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Coping With Anxiety and Depression Disorder

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Every psychological disorder is hard to live and deal with. Anxiety and depression disorders are no exception. Anxiety is a condition where you feel intense anxiety and have anxiety attacks on a regular basis. Anxiety attacks are very scary to deal with and are experienced differently by everyone who experiences them. Some common side effects are feeling like you cannot breathe, or like your heart is going to beat so hard it comes through your chest. Many people who have experienced anxiety attacks say that during the attack, they may feel like they are going to die. People who experience this type of disorder may feel like there is no hope.

Although anxiety and depression disorders seem impossible to live with at times, there are many ways that the disorders can be treated. Many treatments are available both as medication and non-medication methods and can help make life easier for those who experience anxiety attacks.

One of the most common forms of treatment, and the treatment your doctor will recommend is through anti-anxiety or antidepressant medication. These medications can do a lot to help regulate the brain chemicals that cause depression and anxiety. However for many people these medications cause some severe side effects. One of the more serious side effects is suicidal thoughts. These are usually temporary, but it can be very scary especially when you live alone.

A method of treating anxiety that is getting a lot of recognition and becoming more popular lately is through the Panic Away system. This system has been proven to help a lot of people say goodbye to their anxiety forever. The best thing is that it works without the use of any medication or side effects because it is something that you can do within yourself to cure yourself of anxiety and depression.

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Manic Depression is Tearing Apart My Soul. Part II

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

All forms of depression are still being studied by doctors and researchers. 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. Stress is another major factor in depression. Life is full of stress. Work related issues or the dynamics of a dysfunctional family can create it. Depression knows no bounds. Both the rich and the poor contract it. It doesn’t care about race. Color or nationality provide no protection from this illness.

“How do you recognise if you are manic or depressed? When you take medication, what do you expect to happen? Medical descriptions aren’t particularly helpful. This chapter describes things to look out for when manic, depressed, and on some drugs.

“All you have to do is take the tablets – why, I take vitamins every morning.” When you get that comment, and you will get that comment, what exactly do you tell them to make them understand…

When I am Hypomanic / Manic
Twenty specific symptoms I use to identify if I am becoming manic.

When I am Depressed
Twenty patterns of behaviour I associate with being depressed.

When Official Signs of Depression / Manic Depression
Taken from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. (DSM-IV).

The drugs are not going to work quite the way the psychiatrist said they would, or the way you expect them to, or the way anybody else expects them to. You are warned.

About Taking Drugs
So you start taking the drugs your doctor prescribed, and everything is fine, yes? No.

When I am on Tegretol
Tegretol is an effective antimanic for me. But it stops working after a while. How I feel when I am taking it and the side effects.

When I am on Epilim (Depakote)
Epilim stabilises me, but I can’t function at normal. And I get unpleasant side effects which vary by dosage.

When I am on Prozaс
Prozac seems to work well on countering my depression. I’m not getting any side effects either.

When I am on a High Dose of Prozac
Taking 80 mg Prozac works to stabilise my mood swings. With side effects.

When I am on Wellbutrin (Zyban)
Finally, a drug that seems to work the way I want!

When I Found Out I was Manic Depressive
How I felt in the psychiatrist’s office immediately after I was diagnosed.”

There are similar symptoms no matter the type of depression. The frequent change in personality, the mood swings that go up and then goes down. Depression can result in insomnia. If you have no hope, feel helpless or desperate, that could be depression. Depression is real when it interferes with your ability to live your life. But people with depression have a light at the end of the tunnel. There is assistance. Doctors can administer drugs or herbal remedies to treat it. There are also medical professionals that can help your illness through ‘talk therapy’”. Support groups can be of assistance with manic depression. Look for assistance first.

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Manic Depression is Tearing Apart My Soul. Part I

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

When people discuss bi-polar disorder they refer to a condition known as manic depression. This is associated with unusual and quick switches from a good mood to a sour mood, when someone says “wow, they’re bi-polar”. It is just another in the many forms of depression. Manic depression is not the same as just being sad or upset for over something in particular. Everyone has occasional highs and lows in their moods. But people with bipolar disorder have extreme mood swings. They can go from feeling very sad, despairing, helpless, worthless, and hopeless (depression) to feeling as if they are on top of the world, hyperactive, creative, and grandiose (mania). This disease is called bipolar disorder because the mood of a person with bipolar disorder can alternate between two completely opposite poles, euphoric happiness and extreme sadness. Manic depression is a much more serious condition. Another stage of depression is the diagnosis for bi-polar disorder.

Millions of people in the United States are diagnosed with Manic Depression every year. In general 17 million people battle depression each year in America. Genetic factors are the main cause of bipolar disorder genetics. Life experiences and psychological processes do not seem to have any aetiological effect. Bipolar disorder is often treated with anti-manic, and sometimes other, psychiatric drugs. Psychotherapy only has a role in helping to gain insight once there has been substantial recovery from acute symptoms. In serious cases in which there is a risk of harm to oneself or others involuntary commitment may be used; these cases generally involve severe manic episodes with dangerous behaviour or depressive episodes with suicidal ideation. There are widespread problems with social stigma, stereotypes and prejudice against individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

The symptoms of manic-depressive illness or bipolar disorder are classified according to either manic or depressive episodes. Manic depressive states are diagnosed as:

  •  Manic episode: A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with 3 or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, or for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, 4 additional symptoms must be present.
  •  Depressive episode: A depressive episode is diagnosed if 5 or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, or for a period of 2 weeks or longer.
  •  Mixed bipolar episode: In some people, however, symptoms of mania and depression can occur together in a mixed bipolar state. A person could have a very sad, hopeless mood, while feeling energized at the same time.

Unfortunately only about1/3 of those will be diagnosed and receive help. When the sufferer refuses aid, there can be no cure. Mental illness is a red stop sign for many Americans, they don’t want to deal with it. Being crazy isn’t something people want associated with themselves. Sometimes, severe episodes of mania or depression include symptoms of psychosis (or psychotic symptoms). Common psychotic symptoms are hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there) and delusions (false, strongly held beliefs not influenced by logical reasoning or explained by a person’s usual cultural concepts). Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder tend to reflect the extreme mood state at the time. For example, delusions of grandiosity, such as believing one is the President or has special powers or wealth, may occur during mania; delusions of guilt or worthlessness, such as believing that one is ruined and penniless or has committed some terrible crime, may appear during depression. People with bipolar disorder who have these symptoms are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as having schizophrenia, another severe mental illness.

It’s very complex when a disease impacts the brain. The deep mood swings of bipolar disorder may last for weeks or months, causing great disturbances in the lives of those affected, and those of family and friends, too. Today, a growing volume of research suggests that bipolar disorder occurs across a spectrum of symptoms, and that many people aren’t correctly diagnosed. Left untreated, bipolar disorder generally worsens, and the suicide rate is high among those with bipolar disorder. But with effective treatment, you can live an enjoyable and productive life despite bipolar disorder. It is hard to shake the stigma that comes with the diagnosis. But it’s not a sign of being less when this disease is diagnosed. You’re not crazy. This is a disease like any other. Unlike ordinary mood swings, bipolar disorder is much more intense and disruptive to everyday functioning, affecting energy, activity levels, judgment, and behavior.

During a manic episode, a person might impulsively quit a job, charge up huge amounts of debt, or feel rested after sleeping two hours. It can be treated. First it has to be identified. A depressive disorder is a syndrome (group of symptoms) that reflects a sad and/or irritable mood exceeding normal sadness or grief. More specifically, the sadness of depression is characterized by a greater intensity and duration and by more severe symptoms and functional disabilities than is normal.

Depressive signs and symptoms are characterized not only by negative thoughts, moods, and behaviors but also by specific changes in bodily functions (for example, crying spells, body aches, low energy or libido, as well as problems with eating, weight, or sleeping). The functional changes of clinical depressionare often called neurovegetative signs. This means that the nervous system changes in the brain cause many physical symptoms that result in diminished activity and participation.

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Antidepressant And Menopause – Medication For Menopause

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

Menopause is an extremely difficult period in a woman’s life. How the woman deals with the bodily changes occurring in her system is up to her and the doctor she is working with. It is important to know all of your treatment options for the symptoms you may have during menopause. There are hot flashes, mood swings, depression, weight gain, loss of sexual appetite, and headaches. Menopause and Prozac seem to go hand in hand for those who experience menopause symptoms to the extreme.

First, let us look at what Prozac has been used to treat. Prozac was originally designed to help those who suffered from depression. During the study, for this pill it was also determined that those who were in menopause and treating depression with Prozac had less hot flashes. So now, we know that menopause and Prozac go well together. You can treat two symptoms of menopause if you decide you need Prozac. Keep in mind that there are natural methods to treating depression and hot flashes so you if you have doubts about taking a manufactured drug you might try these methods first.

Menopause and Prozac has a nice ring to it if you have found the natural methods are not helping you. Some women are more affected by depression, mood swings due to the hormone imbalance, and they need stronger acting medications. Another medication you may consider when in menopause is Zoloft for depression though it may not treat the hot flashes as Prozac does.

When it is your body you are dealing with it is important to be comfortable with the treatment you are seeking. You may have adverse reactions to one or the other drug listed above. Therefore, you might find that you are not treating hot flashes with Zoloft or you might find that Prozac works better for you. Speak with your doctor about the side effects you may have while taking this medication and keep in mind that if you are still seeking a natural way to treat depression the two will counteract the effects you are seeking and cause severe depression.

Menopause and Prozac tend to be to peas in a pod when you are looking to relieve yourself of menopause symptoms. It is important to understand what affects manufactured medications can have on your body before taking them as well as trying the natural method first if that would make treatment more comfortable for you. Menopause is a difficult time in your life and you should not have to suffer unduly.

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Can Prozac Cure Lazy Eye?

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

According to new research prozac, the popular antidepressant, might also be effective in the treatment of “lazy eye”or amblyopia, especially in adults. Prozac can rejuvenate nerve cells linked to vision in the brains of adults.

Amblyopia or lazy eye is reduced vision in one eye as a result of sustained period of visual neglect in childhood. One eye appears to be weaker than other eye as it was not used enough in early childhood. New research has found that fluoxetene, the antidepressant marketed as prozac, has been found effective in correcting eyesight’s of rats whose vision was impaired in early development and it could well do the same for humans.

In early childhood, the neuronal connections are very plastic, but as the critical period closes this flexibility is greatly reduced. Prozac reopens the critical period of plasticity in the visual cortex, and lateral geniculate body parts of the brain. Prozac helps in returning neurons in the adult brain to a more “plastic” state normally seen in youth. This helps the visual perception system to develop its proper connections between the eye and the brain. This can promote improved visual functions in older individuals. The only concern that the researchers revealed are the side effects of long term use of prozac. Furthermore maximum vision improvement was achieved when vision therapy was also administered along with prozac. The side effects of prozac include severe anxiety, glaucoma and visual filed defects. Further long term research needs to be done to determine the risks/benefits of such a treatment.

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What Makes the Elderly at Risk For Depression?

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

 

People 65 years of age and older encompass multiple risks of depression; with particular medications they might be prescribed, chronic diseases they could be suffering, socially isolated conditions, loss of those near to them, or bodily damage due to cancer treatment or surgery. Not to mention factors such as family history of depression, earlier depression episode or substance abuse.

Canadian Prozac Pharmacy

Among the medications which may set off depression in the elderly, are anticholinergics; these are used to relieve gastrointestinal spasms or cramping. Medications such as Anaspaz, Gastrosed, and Levbid are anticholinergics.

Something used to treat Parkinson’s disease called Cogentin has been shown to cause depression in some, and bromocriptine is another drug used to treat Parkinson’s that can also cause depression.

Corticosteroids, used for reducing swelling and immune system activity, can also trigger depression. These include hydrocortisone, prednisone, flonase, nasocort, nasonex, and flovent.

Diseases can exact a large toll on an elderly person’s body, sapping energy, sinking mobility and destroying the person’s invaluable sense of independence. All consequences of chronic disease which lead bring anyone to despair and tremendous sadness. Depression is an almost unavoidable complication to chronic disease.

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These chronic diseases that can trigger depression should be watched for heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, kidney disease and multiple sclerosis.

Hardships brought on by disease can also trigger psychological stresses that may or may not lead to depression, and risk for depression raises with the raise in seriousness of chronic disease.

Remember, if an elderly human being becomes isolated from other members of the community they lose support systems that could have assisted with stresses or hardships that cause depressions. Recent loss of a spouse, other family member or close friend can emotionally drain someone, leaving them vulnerable to depression. Our natural fear of death grows more prevalent as one ages for many, bringing strong feelings of anxiety and depression. Buy Prozac

So it is that elderly individuals are at a higher risk for depression.

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Prozac: an Option of Reduce Depressions

Tuesday, September 16th, 2008

Cheap Prozac (Fluoxetine hydrochloride) is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. It is used for the treatment of major depressions, obsessive compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, panic disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. When other procedures of treatment are not effective for you in the healing of anxiety stress, or depression, medication for anxiety is available for you. Canadian Prozac is one of the most prescribed medications used in the treatment of anxiety and its related disorder. Chemical disproportion in the brains chemistry can often be a causal factor in anxiety and depressions.

Buy cheap Prozac to make up for that chemical imbalance is a sensible alternative. This medication is as a rule taken once or twice a day. To be successful, it should be taken on a regular basis. Make a tendency of taking it at the same time you do some other daily goings-on. If you are perceptive to or have ever had an allergic reaction to Prozac, you should not take this medication. Make sure that your doctor is aware of any drug reactions that you have experienced. Patients should not take Prozac together with pimozide, thioridazine or monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Buy Prozac will be the right option for you in such types of disease because this medication is FDA approved. Buy Prozac online to save your money and time.

 

Buy Prozac online is very easy. You are to search over the internet and there are many canadian prozac pharmacy, who are selling FDA approved drugs with affordable prices.

One of the most important likely cheap Prozac addiction withdrawal symptoms reported is a keen sense of depression. This medication is likely to give patients a feeling of apathetic euphoria. Stopping the drug can make patients too sensitive to their emotions such as depressions. If patient is feeling more depressed than usual, consult the doctor? Sudden and extreme change in patient’s mood can be occurred. If patients find themselves experiencing sudden shifts between sadness and euphoria, or between depression and ecstasy, they need to talk to the doctor straight away. This symptom of cheap Prozac addiction taking out can be greatly overstated in children because Prozac is the only anti-depressant the FDA has approved for children.

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Essentials For Stress Management Centers

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

Even if it is the best orchestra of the town, if your heart is muffled drum, you can’t enjoy the music. Unless your internal mechanism is evenly balanced, external happenings will not influence you in the manner in which they should influence you.

Something is wrong somewhere and some sort of stress is bothering you. Some stress or the other, continuously confronts one and all. You need to evolve some sort of strategy to lead a stress-free life. If your stress is a small level stress, you can manage it by yourself. If it is beyond your tolerable limits, you need to take the help at the stress management counseling center.

Stress management counseling centers have come to stay. As things stand today, and as per present indications and trends, stress continues to envelop all the segments of the society and hence the need of a permanent mechanism to deal with and tackle stress!

When you think of any career or business, the basic criterion is, the said career or business need to serve two purposes. Firstly, the career must give you mental satisfaction or peace of mind. Secondly, the monetary gains need to be adequate. Unless both these conditions are fulfilled, you will not stick on to it, on a long terms basis.

Public relations, deal with people, solve their problems, and in the process earn handsome amount. Is it not a good career option? This indeed is a good business with long-term prospectus. As per the present indications, the level of stress is going to increase and soon it may assume epidemic proportions.

This is the type of career which you will enjoy immensely, if you have the aptitude. When you get good response for your counseling styles and when you see people return from your clinic happy and satisfied, that is the best type of service that you can tender to the society.

Initially it could be a one man show. Let me assume that, in theory, you are well equipped to handle the people, but it is a learning process for you as well. You train them and in the process get yourself trained. No two individuals are equal and their problems are also different. The level of stress and the type of stress varies from profession to profession. The stress of a Chartered Accountant professional is different from that of a medical practitioner. The banker’s stress is entirely different from that of an executive engineer handling a construction project. The politician has a different type of stress.

And as you gradually expand, you need to associate yourself or employ part-time/full time consultants. Your well treated clients are your best advertisement. Nobody likes to own mental tension. And when you are really able to solve the stress problem, you find your customers gradually increasing. You will be invited to top organizations to deliver lectures on management of stress.

Your payments are bound to be rewarding. Your business will be flourishi

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