Treatment for depression Blog

Bright Lights Said To Be Beneficial To Some Women With Bipolar Depression

Foras Aje — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:47:00 +0000

In what should be of specific interest to women who may be diagnosed with bipolar depression, it has been reported that according to a study published in the journal Bipolar Disorders, bright light therapy can ease bipolar depression in some patients.

This reportedly is the conclusion reached by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine's Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic who studied nine women with bipolar disorder to examine the effects of light therapy in the morning or at midday on mood symptoms.

As Dorothy Sit, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and the study's first author explains:
"There are limited effective treatments for the depressive phase of bipolar disorder, While there are treatments that are effective for mania, the major problem is the depression, which can linger so long that it never really goes away."

Background investigation into this report depicts that in this study, women with bipolar depression were given light boxes and instructed on how to use them at home.

Very tellingly, the women used the light boxes daily for two-week stretches of 15, 30 and 45 minutes. Some patients responded extremely well to the light therapy, and their symptoms of depression disappeared. The responders to light therapy stayed on the light therapy for an additional three or four months. Four patients received morning light, and five used their light boxes at midday. Participants also continued to take their prescribed medications throughout the study period.

Dr. Sit elaborates: "Three of the women who received morning light initially developed what we call a mixed state, with symptoms of depression and mania that occur all at once - racing thoughts, irritability, sleeplessness, anxiety and low mood. But when another group began with midday light therapy, we found a much more stable response."

Very tellingly, a reported two-thirds of the nine women treated achieved some degree of response, with several reaching full recovery from depressive symptoms.

"People with bipolar disorder are exquisitely sensitive to morning light, so this profound effect of morning treatment leading to mixed states is very informative and forces us to ask more questions," said Dr. Sit. "Did we introduce light too early and disrupt circadian rhythms and sleep patterns?"

Experts have gone on record to state a noteworthy fact that people with bipolar disorder are known to be sensitive to changes in outdoor ambient light and to seasonal changes.

At this stage, it is to be stated that researchers are inquiring into whether the risk of suicide in patients with bipolar disorder could be linked to changes in light exposure.

On a concluding note, along with her colleagues, Dr. Sit writes: "In our study, 44 percent of patients were full responders, and 22 percent were partial responders, Light therapy, therefore, is an attractive and possibly effective augmentation strategy to improve the likelihood of full-treatment response."

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Reduced Quality of Life and Increased Post Natal Depression Linked To Delivery of Male Infants

Foras Aje — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:48:00 +0000

In what some might view as unusual, according to research published in the February issue of Journal of Clinical Nursing, it has been suggested that giving birth to a boy can lead to higher levels of severe post-natal depression (PND) and reduced quality of life than having a girl.

Reportedly, a team of researchers led by Professor Claude de Tychey, from Universite Nancy 2, France, found that just under a third of the 181 women they studied four to eight weeks after delivery had PND.

It is noteworthy of mention that nine per cent of the women in the study - carried out in a French community where they didn't face cultural pressures over the sex of their baby - had severe PND and just over three-quarters of those had given birth to boys.

Furthermore, it was discovered by the team that even if women didn't have postnatal depression, giving birth to a boy was significantly more likely to reduce their quality of life than delivering a girl.

As a related Professor, De Tychey suggested"Post-natal depression is very common and poses a major public health problem, especially if it is not diagnosed and treated. When we launched our research, our main aim was to study the effect that gender has on PND. But the overwhelming finding of the study was the fact that gender appears to play a significant role in reduced quality of life as well as an increased chance of severe PND."

Background investigation into this article depicts that when she and the other researchers looked at overall results they discovered that:

- Women who had given birth to a boy reported lower quality of life scores in 70 per cent of cases compared with women who had delivered a girl, regardless of whether they suffered from PND.

- When the 10 quality of life scores were added together in each category, women who had no PND had the highest quality of life scores - 713 points for women who had given birth to girls and 648 for women who had delivered boys.

- When the researchers looked at women with PND, they found higher quality of life scores for women who had delivered girls - 567 if the PND was mild and 541 if it was severe. Women who had delivered boys scored lower totals of 539 if the PND was mild and 498 if it was severe.

The figures also enabled the researchers to compare the gender differences for women with no, mild and severe PND. This showed that:

- Gender differences were greatest in women who had no PND.

- Women with PND also reported lower quality of life scores if they had had a boy - these were lower in 50 per cent of categories if the PND was mild and in 70 per cent of categories if the PND was severe.

"These figures show very clearly that having a boy resulted in lower quality of life scores in all cases" says Professor de Tychey.

On a concluding note, de Tychey notes that "However, we believe that this study - carried out in a French community where women didn't face cultural pressures over the sex of their baby - is the first to show that women who give birth to boys are more likely to suffer from severe PND and reduced quality of life. Further research is needed to find out why this happens. "We believe that our findings have important public health consequences, as they point to the need for developing prevention and early psychotherapeutic programmes for women giving birth to boys."

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Chemical Signature Of Manic Depression Discovered By Scientists

Foras Aje — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:46:00 +0000

According to a new study, it has been suggested that people with manic depression have a distinct chemical signature in their brains.

As published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, this may also indicate how the mood stabilisers used to treat the disorder counteract the changes in the brain that it appears to cause.

Experts have stated that manic depression, which is also known as bipolar disorder, is a debilitating psychiatric condition often noted by alternating mania and depression, affecting about one in every hundred people worldwide.

Furthermore, they note that even though the reasons why these treatments work are poorly understood, it is known that the condition can be treated relatively effectively using the mood-stabilising drugs lithium and valproic acid.

Background investigation into this report depicts that according to the authors of the new study, from Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge, and the National Institutes of Mental Health in the US, they hope that their research will enable a better understanding of the condition and of how it can be treated.

Details emerging from sources of this article depict that the researchers compared postmortem brain tissue samples of people with manic depression with those of age and gender matched controls.

Very tellingly, the researchers' findings lead them to believe that an upset in the balance of different neurotransmitters known as excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters may be central to the disorder.

These neurotransmitters are also said to be which are involved in sending signals in the brain

In addition, the study also suggests that lithium and valproic acid work by restoring the balance of these neurotransmitters in the brain.

Dr Tsz Tsang, one of the authors of the study from the Department of Biomolecular Medicine at Imperial College London, said: "By identifying a distinct biochemical profile in patients with bipolar disorder, our new research provides a valuable insight into the origins and causes of the disease. Moreover, the changes we see in people's metabolic signatures may give a target for drug therapy, allowing us to see how effective a drug is at correcting these changes.

To conclude our report, he adds that: "In this instance, we have already shown that the biochemical changes which valproic acid and lithium bring about in mammalian models represent almost a mirror image of the perturbations in bipolar disorder. This may provide a useful insight to the actions of these treatments and a basis for which to improve therapy in the future."

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Study Links Brain Activity To Parental Instinct

Foras Aje — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:36:00 +0000

New Details have emerged that a possible brain basis for this parental instinct has been reported in research published in the scientific journal PLoS ONE on February 27.

Very tellingly, this research was led by Morten Kringelbach and Alan Stein from the University of Oxford and was funded by the Wellcome Trust and TrygFonden Charitable Foundation.

Reportedly, the authors showed that a region of the human brain called the medial orbitofrontal cortex is highly specifically active within a seventh of a second in response to (unfamiliar) infant faces but not to adult faces.

Related experts believe that this finding has potentially important clinical application in relation to postnatal depression, which is common, occurring in approximately 13% of mothers after birth and often within six weeks.

It is noteworthy of mention that the present findings could eventually provide opportunities for early identification of families at risk.

Furthermore, there is now evidence from deep brain stimulation linking depression to the nearby subgenual cingulate cortex which is strongly connected with the medial orbitofrontal cortex.

To conclude, it should be noted that the present paradigm could eventually provide opportunities for early identification of families at risk.

Study Says: Doctors Should Watch For Depression In Arthritis Patients

Foras Aje — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:23:00 +0000

New reports from researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have suggested that patients with rheumatoid arthritis are twice as likely to experience depression but are unlikely to talk to a doctor about it.

It is noteworthy of mention that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) the most common form of chronic inflammatory arthritis, is a debilitating disease characterized by inflammation of joint tissues, persistent pain, functional disability, stiffness and fatigue.

Furthermore, according top Betsy Sleath, PhD, a professor at the UNC School of Pharmacy, although depression in primary care settings has been well examined, no previous studies have looked at whether rheumatologists and RA patients discuss depression during medical visits.

Background investigation into this article depicts that in a new study lead by Sleath and published in this month's issue of Arthritis Care & Research, researchers found that almost 11 percent of RA patients had moderately severe to severe symptoms of depression.

Furthermore, the study also found that only one in five of the patients who showed symptoms of depression discussed it with their rheumatologists.

Sleath said when patients visit their specialist, their arthritis is understandably their main focus but rheumatologists should consider addressing both RA and depression when they see their patients.

Sleath elaborates: "Chronic diseases can greatly affect a patient's psychosocial well-being, and depression can also affect a patient's adherence to treatment regimens, Since many arthritis patients see their rheumatologist more often then their primary-care physician, we recommend that rheumatologists take steps to screen patients for signs of depression."

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Study Says Antidepressants Only Benefit The Severely Depressed

Foras Aje — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:03:00 +0000

Recent reports have indicated that a new study by researchers in the UK suggests that antidepressants only benefit the very severely depressed.

The same study stated that these drugs are no more effective than a placebo for everyone else.

It is noteworthy of mention that this meta-analytical study (ie one that systematically pools the results of other studies) is the work of Dr Irving Kirsch, from the University of Hull, and his colleagues, and is published today, 26th February, in the open access journal PLoS Medicine.

It should be noted that antidepressants are prescribed for the treatment of clinical depression, and the most widely used are the "new generation" drugs, the SSRIs such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and venlafaxine (Effexor).

Furthermore, former meta-analytical studies of antidepressants have already suggested they have only modest benefits over placebos, in addition the authors pointed out that when data from unpublished trials are included, the benefits are so small they fall below the criteria for clinical significance.

The results showed that:

Drug-placebo differences got bigger as initial severity went up.
This difference was hardly noticeable at moderate levels of initial depression, went up to a relatively small difference for patients with severe depression, and reached a level that would be classed as clinically significant only in those patients at the extreme end of the very depressed scale.
The improvement seemed to result from the most severely depressed patients not responding as well to placebo compared to their less depressed counterparts, than because they responded better to the active drug.

Kirsch and colleagues concluded that:

"Drug-placebo differences in antidepressant efficacy increase as a function of baseline severity, but are relatively small even for severely depressed patients."

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How To Shift Your Negative Thoughts

Foras Aje — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:53:00 +0000

It's been proven that the person who has negative thoughts will start to live in fear, worries and ready to leave. The person who has positive thoughts moves on and achieves better results than others.

However, the main obstacle seems to be that most people think that they don't have control over their thought.

Do you honestly think you have a choice in your thinking.

Yes. You can do it in 3 steps:

Here's how:

1. Be Grateful Of What You Have. Most negative thoughts come from the fear of loss. When you start to experience and get to feel what you already have, the fear of loss will disappear. You'll feel ease and comfortable at this step.

2. Call Someone And Share Something Great With Them. Call people related to you such as family, friends, customers or colleagues. Share some great things and try to make them happy.

3. Give Someone Help Or Contribute To Others. You can do it in the form of donation, voluntary in charity or help someone over the street. Contributing to others fulfill us and bring us great feeling.

Here's to happiness in '08 and beyond!

Suicide Should Never Be the Option

Foras Aje — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 20:54:00 +0000

Suicide Should Never Be the Option

A noted author has gone on record to state that the reasons why someone comes to the point of committing suicide are generally the following:

1. Love: A big deception, adultery and rejection

2. Money: This is the cause of treasons, big losses and failure

3. Serious mistakes made by the person

It is noteworthy of mention that the third reason listed above is perhaps the one that carries the most weight and consequently would be examined the most.

Related experts have stated that this is most commonly the reason not only why many people commit suicide but also the reason why people become hysterical, psychotic or schizophrenic.

Take for example, the crime of murder, the process of realizing a crime is very painful when you are a murderer or the one who injured other innocent people. You cannot forgive yourself...

However, experts suggest that one must forgive one's self because we are dominated by our anti-conscience, which is evil and violent.

Your actions are not spurred by your conscious, but by the anti-conscience that destroyed a part of your conscience to dominate you. You become only a shell without a life.

That said, experts have gone on to suggest that for people who may be considering suicide as a way out, everything depends on your attitude. Follow your dream guidance, and the unconscious will help you find your path and triumph. It does not matter how many mistakes you have already made or how serious they were. You can correct your behavior and you can save many more people from craziness, misery and despair.

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Diabetics May Face Tougher Oppositions From Illnesses

Foras Aje — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:49:00 +0000

According to the American Diabetes Association, it has been stated that when people with diabetes get a flu, cold or other illness, it can be a challenge to take care of their diabetes.

However, according to the American Diabetes Association, they need to do so or risk serious complications.

To quote, the ADA's president of health care and education, Ann Albright: "People with diabetes have special considerations when they are under the weather, It is important to have a plan with your health-care team in place before you become sick to avoid getting worse. It is also critical to get a flu shot every year to potentially avoid getting influenza."

For related patients, the ADA offers the following diabetes-management tips for diabetics who are ill:

They include the following:

1. Check blood glucose levels every three to four hours. Also, if you've been instructed by your health-care team, check for ketones in your urine every few hours. Ketones, a waste product produced when the body begins to use stored fat for energy, can build up if a diabetic doesn't take insulin at regular intervals. High ketone levels can lead to ketoacidosis, which can lead to coma or death.

2. Unless told otherwise by your doctor, don't stop taking insulin or other medications.

3. Even if you've lost your appetite, try to eat. The ADA recommends at least 15 grams of carbohydrates about every hour.

4. If you're vomiting or have diarrhea, or have a fever, try to drink a cup of fluid each hour to prevent dehydration.

5. If your blood glucose level is too high, try sugar-free liquids such as water or broth. If your blood glucose level is low, try drinking liquids with about 15 grams of carbohydrates in them, such as a half a cup of apple juice or one cup of milk.

6. Talk to your doctor before you take any over-the-counter cold or flu medicines, because some of them can increase blood glucose or blood pressure levels.

7. Call your doctor if: there is a rise in ketones or if there are ketones in your urine for more than 12 hours; if you've been vomiting or had diarrhea for more than six hours; if you have a fever that keeps going up or one that lasts more than a day; if you have abdominal pain; or if you can't control your blood glucose levels.

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Approach everything with the heart and playful nature of a child

Foras Aje — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:12:00 +0000

Friends, to put it as succintly as possible, one way of reducing the stress of life is to approach everything with the heart and playful nature of a child.

It's the only life you have and you should be having FUN! If you're not, you are missing out on all of the funny things that happen around us.

As Dr. Suess said, "From near to far, from here to there, funny things are everywhere"...all we have to do is keep our minds on the look out. Try to build some fun into every day - even if it's only a few minutes - we need that time to relax, unwind and rejuvenate.

In your life, practice tithing, finding the golden nugget, and make sure to have fun everyday. Then, sit back and watch how the gold of each day will brilliantly shine. As Johnny said to Ponyboy Curtis in the book "The Outsiders;" "Stay Gold, Ponyboy, stay gold!" Step up, step out, and stay gold!

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Have you been giving yourself enough space?

Foras Aje — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:14:00 +0000

Friends, in this day and age, we all need space to be happy, healthy and successful individuals.

Experts have stated that space is another element that is under-rated.

In our busy world, alone time may be limited to the drive to and from work or the grocery store.

As the saying goes: "Silence is the element through which great things fashion themselves" space reconnects us to our creative energy, and exudes abundance and peace.

Even claiming an hour of uninterrupted SPACE can do wonders in restoring depleted energy. What SPACE is your soul hungry for? Feed your soul with the perfect space.

Hey, Jesus retreated to the mountains several times in the Word...why shouldn't we?

Aje

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Every battle is won before it is ever fought

Foras Aje — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:30:00 +0000

According to experts, it's safe to say every day we have so many thoughts about the future. Suffice it to say many of these thoughts are worries.

We worry what someone thinks of us, we worry about failing a performance, job interview, test, or completing a part of our work. We worry about our health.

However friends, this neither makes us feel good, nor does it put us in the right attitude for success and happiness.

So, it's safe to conclude that instead of projecting negatively into the future, visualize positively as a regular habit.

You don't need to spend any more time doing it than you presently spend on negative thoughts. Begin by replacing the negative with the positive. Picture yourself being successful today in what you have planned for your day. Imagine finding good opportunities.

It is noteworthy to point out that as soon as you catch yourself worrying, reverse your thoughts quickly.

Visualize yourself being good at all things you are doing or wish to do. You learn fast. You do good work. You listen well to others and have good relationships. You are healthy and have energy and alertness.

Remember, as a man thinketh in his heart...so is he....

In Happiness....

Aje

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Every one of us is prone to loneliness and depression

Foras Aje — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 19:33:00 +0000

These days, it is safe to say that as humans, in an attempt to meet up with the challenges of life, we set all manners of goals for ourselves and when we fail to reach those goals, we may become dejected and frustrated.

Now the catchy part is for the average person, depending on his maturity and his life experiences, he becomes moody, withdraws from other people around him and keeps to himself.

So, friends, what's one to do?

Well remember that at a stage in our lives, we all experience situations that may lead to loneliness and depression.

That said, the following tips will help you cope when the odd time comes up in your life.

1. It doesn't worth dying for. Always, have it at the back of your mind that the situation at hand doesn't worth dying for.

2. Go out rather than staying in your room brooding over your loss. Reach out to your friends, relatives and associates. Socialize.

3. Give a helping hand to the needy.

4. Find a way to entertain yourself.

5. Exercises the body regularly. This will also be of great help to you in getting over your worries.

6. Read inspirational books and attend motivational programmes.

7. If you can afford it, go on a vacation.

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How much stress are you feeling right now?

Foras Aje — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:49:00 +0000

Experts have suggested that these days, an entire day or even an entire hour without stress is rare.

The same experts have even offered that based on research, it has been estimated that people who have a sense of control have less stress.

And just what is that?

Well, a 'sense of control' is not the same as 'control.' Control is an illusion. It's impossible to control everything and those who try become sick and miserable. However, a 'sense of control' is real and something you can develop.

To define it or offer some sort of explanation for it, it's a sense of inner confidence and deep well being; a feeling that no matter what, this too shall pass and you'll emerge stronger and better.

To go into more about this, one essential element in achieving such a state of control is faith.

Quite simply, faith is a key component of a sense of control; faith in something greater, like Nature, Courage, Joy, Excellence and of course, God.

Everything that goes wrong and causes stress is an opportunity to build your sense of control and practice your faith. It's a paradox.

In conclusion, remember, what seems to harm us, actually makes us stronger.

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Depression is not a sign of craziness

Foras Aje — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:06:00 +0000

Perhaps it’s safe to say depression is not so bad after all…in a sense.

In fact, it must be stated that it is not a sign of craziness.

I read an article online that stated that it means that the human being starts understanding the big block that exists inside oneself because he sees that his life is not what he desired and that many things have gone wrong.

When one starts to get alarmed by how one’s life may have turned out, it’s safe to say that he or she can change many things.

Experts state that the unconscious invites them to investigate the reason they have this feeling. They need to learn who they really are, which can easily be done through dream interpretation through the correct method, which works like psychotherapy.

Other related experts have noted that the unconscious shows to each person their problems.

Furthermore, it depicts why they behave this way, how they can correct their behaviour.

So in conclusion, the first depression we start feeling can lead us to the solution we need in order to have a balanced and happy life in the end.

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Turns out women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression

Foras Aje — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:53:00 +0000

I was surfing the net you know finding stuff to update my blogs with and it turns out, that according to studies, women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression.

Honestly, I never did know that, but after reading what the report said, I’m not too surprised.

Based on the suggestions by the experts, there are many reasons for this.

One most obvious reason that may make women more prone to depression is the levels of the sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

Further investigation into the reports also depicts that women have a higher level of these hormones and the levels change during the menstrual cycle, throughout pregnancy and childbirth and at the menopause.

After reading further, in addition, the levels of oestrogen and progesterone are very high in pregnancy and drop dramatically after the birth. This sudden change can sometimes trigger depression.

Consequently, about half of all new mothers go through the maternity or baby blues, 15 percent get mild to moderate postnatal depression and a small percentage may even suffer from severe depression.

Thankfully, since this blog depicts natural methods of treating depression, one helpful fact might be that women are the ones who are most likely to be open to natural methods of treating the mental ailment…so, though they may be twice as likely to be diagnosed, it’s safe to say they will be twice as likely to be treated.

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F. Oye Aje
Plan Desk Associate
General Clerk
Syska Hennessy Group, Inc.

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Have you heard of these Herbs For Depression

Foras Aje — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 22:43:00 +0000

These days, holistic methods of healing are not to be overlooked.

Most do make use of herbs and other therapeutic methods of treatment and even an ailment such as depression is not to be overlooked in this regard.

To this effect, research has indicated that there are many herbs that are able to help lift the spirits, help a person to relax and relieve stress.

These herbs include:

damiana,
ginseng,
lady's slipper.

Damiana (Turnera aphrodisiaca)

Damiana is a strengthener for the nervous system. It also has an ancient reputation as an aphrodisiac - this may or may not be true but it is a tonic for the central nervous and hormonal systems. The pharmacology of the plant suggests that it has a testosterone like action.

Damiana is an anti-depressant and is considered a specific for anxiety and depression where there is a sexual factor.
It can be used to strengthen the male sexual system.
As a nerve tonic it is often used with oats and depending on the situation it combines well with kola or skullcap.

Ginseng (Panax Ginseng (Chinese/Korean/Japanese), panax quinquefolius (American) Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian)). It is also known as man root, life root and heal all.

Ginseng root protects the body and nervous system from stress, stimulates and increases metabolic function, enhances physical and mental efficiency by improving circulation. It also helps to keep balanced blood pressure and glucose levels, increase gastrointestinal movement, iron metabolism, and promote RNA synthesis.

Ginseng:

stimulates the nervous system and boosts energy,
stimulates hormone secretion,
lowers blood cholesterol level,
protects cells from damage due to radiation and exposure to toxins,
enhances memory, concentration and learning,

Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium pubescens)

Lady's slipper is one of the most widely applicable nerviness available. It can be used in all stress reactions, emotional tension and anxiety states. It will help to elevate the mood -- especially where depression is present. It can help ease nervous pain -- though it is best used in combination with other herbs for this purpose. It can be used to treat anxiety that is associated with insomnia.

I will be quick to point out though, in no way should these herbs be seen as the end-all-be-all for treating depression.

Other methods such as positive thinking, exercise and even a healthier diet, do come into play as well as seeking uplifting company to keep the spirits up.

All in all, here’s to health and happiness.

Aje

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Overcome your depression with 6 steps

Foras Aje — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 02:54:00 +0000

You manufacture your own sadness and happiness.

That is a fact supported by many experts on the activities of the brain.

Most researchers believe that although the body-mind-emotion connection is not only scientifically known it is also quite apparent when you try out some simple steps.

So, are you ready to learn some simple steps?

1. Become your own best friend. Always, always be on your side, no matter what. Be quick to forgive mistakes and ready with a kind word to yourself.

2. Don’t look down. In a literal sense, avoid looking down. If you find yourself depressed, raise your head and lift your eyes. Your stomach relaxes, your diaphragm unclench, you take deeper breaths, and your thoughts also follow an upward direction.

3. Practice gratitude. We often focus on what we don’t have or what is wrong. Make a list in your daily journal of all the things for which you are grateful.

4. Smile. Even if you don’t feel like smiling, smile anyway.

5. Laugh. Read, watch, or listen to something funny at least once a day.

6. Share. Take steps 1-5, bundle them all up, and share them. Write them in a daily journal.

Well, it is my sincere hope that these tips will come in handy in helping you beat the blues.

Here's to happiness.

Aje

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the process of releasing negativity and restoring your spirit

Foras Aje — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 23:40:00 +0000

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

What you constantly think of is what almost inevitably becomes the outcome of your life.

And this bears a great deal of relevance in regards to depression and one’s overall health.

Ask any doctor. The stress of feeling badly all the times can easily lead to medical disorders.

Most experts believe that a great overlap exists between your mind and body, uniting them. Relieve your mental stress and your body will be happier, too. It's time to unburden yourself of everything that has been blocking progress in your life by keeping you attached to an unhappy past.

Well, in coming up with this article, I have culled some tips provided by related experts and here they are:

Visualization
This means that you can literally let go of old stored feelings of anger, fear, abandonment, embarrassment, and so on, that have been accumulating inside of you all of your life.

Seek help from a Higher Power:

Humans Store Emotions Physically so release them physically.

Expelling negativity is not a negative experience, it is a relief.

Then Restore Your Spirit
Once the bad layers are released, it's best to fill up the spaces they left with something wonderfully positive.

Here’s to health and happiness for you.

Aje

Article Posted By Bodyhealthsoul LLC. Stay with us for more information on the Latest Health News, Tips, Healthy Living and Lifestyle choices at http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com

Visualize Your Happiness

Foras Aje — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 19:24:00 +0000

As a Man Thinketh in His Heart So is He…

This cryptic statement says so much in so little and although it may of religious origin, several persons who may not even spiritual per se do practice it to immense success.

It is noteworthy to note that visualization is an essential tool used by millions of successful businessmen and professionals all over the world to help them achieve their goals.

But can this be applied to increasing one’s happiness?

Well, why not.

However, it must be noted that using visualization to help you gain happiness is a gradual process, so don’t expect to learn it overnight.

Ask yourself this question first and be honest with your answer. What is happiness to you? Material and external happiness is easy to achieve once you’ve developed a plan, but you might realize later on these things don’t make you truly happy.

Most experts and professionals who work with the mind have stated that happiness comes from within.

Visualizing your happiness is like going on a race. The previous step required you to imagine what it would look like to get to the finish line. This time, you need to determine what you’ll do DURING the race in order to get to the finish line.

So to help with this process of achieving your goals, it’s Time for Self-Affirmations
You now have all the required elements for this visualization exercise to work. The last thing to do is making yourself believe that it can and will happen for you.

Every time you wake up and before you go to sleep, visualize the perfect scene reflecting your goals. Then tell yourself with utmost confidence that you have all what it takes to do it. You can face yourself in the mirror if it helps.

When you do this regularly, your brain will get used to what it’s hearing from you until it’s convinced that you’re virtually destined to make your dreams come true.

Well, mate in conclusion…I wish you all the happiness in the world-now and beyond.

Article Posted By Bodyhealthsoul LLC. Stay with us for more information on the Latest Health News, Tips, Healthy Living and Lifestyle choices at http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com

So what about acupuncture and depression?

Foras Aje — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 23:06:00 +0000

Are you severely or mildly depressed and wondering about acupuncture and depression? According to research and case studies, acupuncture is effective in treating depression. But, did you know that there is a way to treat the depression without the needles? More on that later.

It appears that the most effective treatment for depression is medication. After all it works. I've used medication for both depression and anxiety and have had phenomenal success in both cases. However, I prefer to use natural remedies whenever possible because medications do have side effects and also introduce toxic elements into the body.
Well, if one considers the dangers of so-called depression drugs, it does leave one to consider if perhaps there could be some effectiveness in other means of curtailing this mental plague.

The good news is there is some scientific research that supports the effectiveness of acupuncture in decreasing the severity of depression in patients.

According to a study that was conducted by the National Institute of Health in 1998, all the participants that received acupuncture for depression collectively experienced a 43% reduction in their depression symptoms, which was 21% greater than the dummy control group.

So it’s safe to say that the acupuncture did something for the depression symptoms.

Perhaps the theory on acupuncture and depression is this:

-Acupuncture states that there are energy pathways in the body called meridians. Various illnesses occur when these meridians become blocked.

The acupuncturist attempts to unblock the clogged up meridians by inserting needles into certain points along these meridians. When the energy is allowed to flow again, the symptoms of the illness subside. And so it is with acupuncture and depression.

Now background investigation into this report also reveals that if you don't like needles but are interested in the possibilities of acupuncture and depression, there is a form of acupressure that has been found to be equally successful.

Reportedly, it involves correctly tapping certain points on special meridians with your finger tips. The best thing about this approach is you can do it yourself.

In conclusion, I’ll go on a limb and add that other therapies like Yoga, watching your diet, positive thinking and reading religious books could help immensely.

All in all…perhaps a combination of all would be best eh?

To Health.

Article Posted By Bodyhealthsoul LLC. Stay with us for more information on the Latest Health News, Tips, Healthy Living and Lifestyle choices at http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com

Simple changes to simple things make life more enjoyable.

Foras Aje — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 20:31:00 +0000

Being happy may perhaps be dependant on the variety of events in one’s life.

If things seem to have stagnated into a boring routine for you, perhaps, it’s time for a change.

To that effect, here are some tips by a guest writer to help with implementing change in your life to avoid boredom.

Same end, different means – drive a different route to work, take a walk during lunch time instead of going to war with your paperwork again, read suspense novels instead of your usual genre, etc.

Scale down or up – When you put layers of clothing on, it will be impossible for you not to feel the added weight of the textile materials right? The same goes with your life. The more complicated it is the more you have to deal with: different people or situations. If you’re too stressed with the amount of work that entails, scale down.

Change good habits for better ones – If you keep on slugging it out with the Stairmaster every time you go to the gym, sooner or later, you are going to get bored with it. Why not try Pilates or kickboxing or swimming to keep fit?

Seek out a change of scenery – Sometimes a simple flower arrangement or a funny cartoon can make a dreary office more cheerful.

Though the tips above are not the end all be all of making these changes, they sure won’t hurt and can help immensely you know.

So, do give them a shot…

To happiness ya’all

Article Posted By Bodyhealthsoul LLC. Stay with us for more information on the Latest Health News, Tips, Healthy Living and Lifestyle choices at http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com

There are actually a lot of symptoms of depression ..

Foras Aje — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:04:00 +0000

…And it’s safe to say one needs to know about them before they manifest into something bigger than it should be.

To that effect, I’ve done some research for this article and based on the conclusion of certain experts, it has been noted that people who may be suffering from depression or manic disorders actually exhibit or show each and every kind of symptom of depression that doctors will tell you that depressed people have.

They state that although there are actually a lot of symptoms of depression that depressed people may actually possess but they don’t have to suffer from each and every one of them before you actually help them get diagnosed and be treated for this illness.

To that effect, it’s noteworthy to mention that here are some common examples of symptoms of depression:

Prolonged period of sadness or not feeling "up to it," people who are always feeling not in the mood, who’d rather mope around the house and feel sorry for one’s self is the best example for this symptom of depression.

Guilt-driven, loss of self-worth and helplessness: other symptoms of depression that can be easily seen on people who prefer to mope around all day long are these. Whenever a person feels so guilty over something, that actually makes one a very sad person who feels like he or she doesn’t deserve to be happy

Fatigue, always tired: people suffering from depression, since they’ve lost whatever interest in life that they may have had before are actually lacking of physical energy at all times, if one would prefer to just mope around, probably won’t even eat not get enough sleep, a depressed person may well be on their way to not just a mental illness but depression can actually be terrible for one’s physical health as well.

Having trouble concentrating, having bad memory and is indecisive: a person who is suffering from depression easily gives away this tell-tale symptom of depression. Wherein one’s lack of interest with regards to the outside world or for just about anything for that matter can lead to that person’s inability to lose track of things and actually not be able to remember things that happened or what other people said. Lack of interest actually makes depressed people very inattentive.

Again, these are not the conclusive types of the symptoms, however, knowing these few could be a good start to being well informed.

Just remember, you are never alone in your struggle…help is within reach.

To Happiness,

Aje

Article Posted By Bodyhealthsoul LLC. Stay with us for more information on the Latest Health News, Tips, Healthy Living and Lifestyle choices at http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com

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Foras Aje — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:45:00 +0000

Testing blog post

Let’s Go Over Depression And The Signs of Suicide:

Foras Aje — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:54:00 +0000

It’s safe to say from all indications that depression and the signs of suicide are unfortunately all too often items that go hand-in-hand.

It’s also pretty obvious that people who do not either live with someone suffering from depression or battle depression themselves absolutely have no idea how dark the hole of depression is.

Still, this can’t be an excuse as depression and signs of suicide are absolutely health concerns that should be taken very seriously.

Consequently, if a friend or loved one that you know is suffering from depression and if you are concerned about the symptoms of suicide there are the few things that you can watch for.

Here are some major indications to be on the look out:

1. If your friend or loved one begins to talk about suicide and then starts to give away favorite possessions, this is a serious sign of suicide and it must be dealt with immediately.

2. It indicates that the sufferer has seriously contemplated harming themselves. If they pull away from you and others who love, if they begin to miss work or school, if they no longer care about things that they have always cared about then these are negative signs related to depression and suicide. If you notice that your friend or loved one begins to alter their normal behavior associated with a depressive episode then you should also take action.

In addition to all of these points, it is noteworthy that one should not respond to these signs with inappropriate humor, indifference, or attempts to just cheer the person up.

More steps than just that might need to be taken.

In happiness,

Aje

Article Posted By Bodyhealthsoul LLC. Stay with us for more information on the Latest Health News, Tips, Healthy Living and Lifestyle choices at http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com

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