Difference Between Psychotic and Neurotic Depression

There are so many forms of depression. Neurotic depression is another form of depression that is observed in people. It is also known as dysthymia disorder. It is a chronic form of depression and is distinguished by the frames of mind that are constantly low however it is not as severe as the other forms of depression. Psychotic depression is the most dangerous form of depression. People that suffer from this form of depression experience the problems like Hallucination and Delusions. Hallucination causes problems in vision and hearing problems. Delusion causes fears and development of negative thoughts in human minds.

Difference between Psychotic and neurotic depression

The cause of Neurotic depression is completely unknown. So many researches have been done to identify the reason of neurotic disorders but none of the research has been successful. This form of depression is not as severe as other forms of depression. It causes depressed mood, hopelessness and despair almost everyday. It is mostly observed in women as compared with men. It can also occur in children as well. The cause of Psychotic depression is also unknown. However few researches have shown that it has something to do with hormonal changes. Hormone named Cortical is the main cause of psychotic depressions that normally leads to stress. It is also not a severe form of depression but should be cured in time. Neurotic depression generally affects four to five percent of general population. It can easily be cured by the help of medicines prescribed by the specialist. It may persist for years if not cured at the right time. In case of this type of depression consulting with a specialist is a wise decision.

Other causes of Neurotic depression

1. Appetite problem, you tend to overeating or less eating.

2. Sleeping problems

3. Your energy level gets low.

4. Ability to Concentrate gets affected

5. Poor self admiration.

Other causes of Psychotic depression

1. Sleeping problems

2. It plays a huge role to get you in the state of Anxiety.

3. You tend to loose the ability to move.

4. Your ears and eyes do not work normally.

Neurotic depression can be cured easily both by medicines and psychotherapy. Medicine that is frequently used to get rid of this disorder is Fluoxetine (Prozac). Along with medicines talk therapies are also very much used to cure this disorder. It has been observed that the interpersonal and behavioral therapies have been a great help in Neurotic depression. Psychotic depression can be cured by antidepressants. Antipsychotic drugs and antidepressants are greatly helpful in the treatment of this type of depression. Trained professionals also use ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) technology to treat psychotic depression. People have found it really very good that have been through ECT. The recovery from psychotic depression takes more than one year time, but the result is always satisfying. Neurotic depression also takes almost the same amount of time. The results in case of neurotic depression are also very good.

Symptoms of Depression

More and more people right across the world are reporting to suffer from the symptom of depression. More and more people are seeking information on depression.

Symptoms of Depression

What are the symptoms of a mild depression?

• Feeling sad and low, and tired.


• Restlessness or irritability.


• Sleep problems - insomnia or sleeping to excess.


• Worry.


• Weepiness, crying at inappropriate times.


• Difficulty in concentrating, and forming and carrying out plans and ideas.


• Lack of appetite and spirit.

What are the symptoms of a serious, major depression?

• Deep feeling of sadness, despair, misery, gloom and blackness.


• Loss of affection towards oneself and others, empty mood.


• A sense of failure, self-criticism, feeling of unworthiness, even self-loathing.


• Loss of interest in life, in former favorite activities, inability to take pleasure in life.


• Decreased energy, fatigue, sluggish.


• Loss of sex drive.


• Loss of self-esteem and confidence.


• Altered appetite, usually a loss of appetite and weight (seldom overeating and weight gain).


• Weight fluctuation.


• Lethargy, slovenliness, apathy.


• Insomnia or sleeping for long periods as a means of escape.


• Early morning awaking - typically between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.


• Thoughts of death or suicide, even attempt of suicide.

What might be the physical symptom of depression?

• persistent headache


• persistent digestive disorders


• chronic pain


• appetite irregularities: irregular eating, overeating or loss of appetite


• weight alteration: gain or loss of weight, weight fluctuation


• changed sleep pattern: insomnia, early morning waking or oversleeping


• decreased libido, loss of sex drive.

Cause of Depression

Depression can be caused by environmental factors like emotional traumas or climatic conditions as too little sunshine. Endogenous factors, like hormonal changes or reduction of certain neurotransmitters in the brain also may cause depression. The tendency of being depressed often runs in the family, so there are genetic causes as well.

Teenage Stress and Self Help for Anxiety and Depression

There are many reasons for teenagers' susceptibility to the symptoms and consequences of negative stress, anxiety and depression. One simple reason is biological - the chemical changes taking place in their bodies as a result of puberty can contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression. Along these same lines, their knowledge of the changes happening to them can confuse teens as they try to "find their place in the world." Ultimately, the introduction of some basic stress management skills can prove to be an effective self help for anxiety and depression for teenagers.

In theory, as adults we have past experiences in a wide range of situations that allows us to face stressful events creatively. Also, having "survived" the many trials and tribulations of life, adults are able to put the relative importance of events into a perspective that teenagers cannot; as adults we know that life will go on, but to a teen, something as trivial as not being invited to a party can take on life-shattering proportions.

One of the best things you can do for a teenager dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression is to help them to put events into their proper perspective. Since they may not have the experiences to formulate a realistic perspective of their own, try giving them the benefit of your experiences and the lessons they have taught you. Share stories of events that were traumatic to you at the time, but that worked out well in the end. By sharing in this way you give teens "anchors" they can fall back on when dealing with unfamiliar, frightening and stressful situations.

Also, it is very important that you intervene on behalf of teens if you find them isolating themselves. One of the best cures for anxiety and depression is positive activity and interaction with others. Be cognizant of the people that teens are spending their time with as teens are very susceptible to peer pressure. Expose teens to wholesome activities and encourage them to participate.

Other than that, the same stress management techniques that work for adults work for teenagers: humor, exercise, breathing exercise, yoga, meditation just about anything that takes the mind off of problems and allows them to relax. Teenage stress is susceptible to the benefits of self help for anxiety and depression. Teenagers may need a bit more guidance from their adult role models along the way, but there is no reason why they cannot learn to effectively manage their stress, anxiety and depression symptoms effectively.

Brain Waves and Depression

People suffering from depression disorder, especially chronic depression, have certain pattern of their brain waves.

There are only five different brain waves which we have:

- Beta is the one for the wide awake state of mind. Usually people with not enough beta waves suffer from depression. Beta waves control emotional stability, our levels of concentration and awareness of our surroundings.

- Alpha is a state of light relaxation, which your brain switches to automatically when you close your eyes. It's that state in between when you just woke up or are ready to go to sleep.

- Theta is a state coveted by those who meditate, it's either light sleeps with dreaming or deep meditation. In this state hypnotists can plant suggestions; you can also listen to audio language lessons or different personal development programs.

- Delta is a state of deep sleep, where we do not dream but rather our body takes time to recharge and heal itself.

- Gamma waves process the information from different parts of brain. The higher their activity, the more intelligent is the person. Generally, people like this are sharper, have excellent memory and all five senses perfect. On the contrary, people with learning difficulties produce less gamma waves.

Brain waves were first discovered in 1934, but only through the 1990s the researchers started trying to manipulate the brain waves to cure certain mental disorders: SAD (seasonal affective disorder), depression and anxiety, chronic fatigue, pain or hypertension.

What I'm particularly interested in is beta waves.

If you have too many of them, you experience anxiety, tension and worry as you become extremely alert and over-concentrate or over-analyze stuff. Vice versa, you become depressed or feeling blue if there is not enough beta waves activity to interest or motivate you.

So, by altering your brain waves with certain sounds, frequency and tones on audio recordings you can improve and stabilize your emotional state. There are plenty of products out there that you can try.

The latest I heard is that you also can determine how successful some antidepressant medications will be for you by examining your brain waves changes from the onset of your depression treatment instead of waiting for 6-8 weeks to see if the drugs started working.

Just a caution though. Whatever depression help I'm suggesting to you, do not discount conventional help first. Go to your doctor, wait for the diagnosis and discuss all the possible ways of fighting your mental disorder with them first.

Depression - How to Face It

Do you or a loved on suffer from depression?

Depression can be a crippling mental disorder when ignored or left untreated. Feelings of sadness and other negative feelings affect us all at some point in our lives and desperately need to be addressed in order to get to the root of the problem. The current economic crisis, relationships and poor job suitability are all contributing factors to why people may suffer from depression. Vast amounts of money are spent each year on treating sufferers of depression, treatments range from hospitalization to counselling and prescribed drugs such as anti-depressants. In fact anti-depressants only defer the depression and don't actually cure the disorder, yet millions of people receive prescriptions for anti-depressants each year. Studies have shown that these treatments prove largely ineffective and now mental health professionals are turning to alternative options to solve the age old disorder. On the upside we can rest assured that depressionis not permanent and there is a way out of what often seems like a never ending flood of negative thoughts and emotions on a daily basis.

The answer lies within Cognitive Behavior Therapy concepts and how to use them to overcome, OCD or Anxiety. Cognitive behavior therapy has been used to successfully and permanently relieve people of depression all over the world and attending a clinic is not necessary. The process involves changing mental attitudes towards everyday life, understanding the relationship between your thoughts, behaviour and moods and identifying negative thoughts which cause prolong your depressed state. One of the objectives of Cognitive Behavior Therapy is to identify and monitor thoughts, assumptions, beliefs and behaviors that are related and accompanied to debilitating negative emotions and to identify those which are dysfunctional, inaccurate, or simply unhelpful. This is done in an effort to replace or transcend them with more realistic and self-helping ways. Cognitive Behavior Therapy can help depression sufferers overcome their disorder and lead a normal healthy and happy life. It is essential to understand what causes depression and to be aware of the actions, thoughts and feelings that can trigger it.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy will...

-Help you understand the relationship between your thoughts, behaviours and moods which will feel like a heavy weight has been lifted.

-Teach you behavioral techniques to help increase your activity levels and unleash your untapped energy you already have.

-Teach you cognitive techniques to help identify and challenge the negative thoughts which help to keep your depression ongoing.

-Teach you to measure changes in your symptoms, prepare for obstacles and set goals.

-Help identify triggers and patterns of your low moods, and to understand that you play an active part in getting yourself out of a low mood and regaining your own happiness.

Depression In Children

Many children have to experience the problem of depression. Oftentimes a child will go through a harrowing experience that will completely turn their life inside out. They may be required to go through something that is not expected. This experience can hurt them and give them a form of depression that is hard to escape. Depression in children is not uncommon and is happening more and more to children of many different ages.

Depression in children is also very serious and is something that has to be dealt with immediately. If a child has to deal with depression with no help, they could very well end up with a lot more problems later in their lives. It is absolutely necessary for a responsible person to tackle the challenges with the child and the depression that they are going through. Depression in children can happen in many different ways and take on just as many forms.

There are a lot of things that cannot be explained in life and we all know all unfair life can be. Some of these unexplained things will hold the answer as to why children have to deal with depression. Many times a child can be depressed because of their family situation. They may have had a bad experience happen within their family unit or quite possibly they are dealing with a problem at school. These are just a couple reasons why a child may be dealing with depression.

Many times a child will seek out and get help from their parents. However, a lot of parents that do not notice or recognize the problems that are happening in their children's life. Parents may not see the signs that are there, oftentimes because the child is hiding them. If a parent is active in their children's lives, they should be able to see that there is something bothering them no matter what it is. Kids of all ages have problems dealing with depression. A child's age does not matter. The important thing is that if they get help right away, they will have a chance at living a happy, productive and normal life.

Many kids have a problem with another child on the playground or in the neighborhood. They may not be getting along well with other kids because of something that has happened. No matter what, a parent must be involved in their children's life. They have to be attentive and notice what is going on at all times. If an issue arises, most parents will see it right away. Sometimes problems with eating or sleeping can be one of the reasons why a child has to deal with depression.

Getting quick help and treatment for depression in children will help a child get over the reason why they are not having a good feelings all the time. Some children will required to go into therapy or take medication. This is extremely important and must be done because this is something that will affect a child for the rest of their life.

Depression Daily Ritual

Why am I using the word ritual on the title of this page?

I am not using it on the religious context of the word. Rituals implies a personal choice and tend to be followed more than habits.

Habits one can break easily, but rituals not so much. Rituals do have a more profound moral and mental connotation and there are not so easily broken.

I decided to follow a "Depression Help Morning Success Ritual" as soon as I get up.

With a mental illness such as depression getting up can, usually is, the most excruciating time of the day.

So, if you follow a particular ritual, nothing heavy, can help you get your day started on the right foot.

This is what I do as my daily Depression Help Ritual:

1.- Get up at 6 am (you know it is recommended to get up and go to bed at the same time, weekends included, to get your brain hormones released on a regular flow).

2.- Drink a half a liter of water. It's been proven that the body gets dehydrated during the night. So, makes sense to drink water (no, not coffee or tea, plain water).

3.- Go the bathroom (no explanations here).

4.- Floss and brush your teeth (the intention of this is to start your day clean and refresh and what better way than to start with your mouth. We'll take a shower a bit latter)

5.- Meditation for 5 or 10 minutes (if your preference is for a longer period of time, by all means go for it).

6.- Light exercise such as yoga or pilates for 10 to 15 minutes (the intention here is to pump up your heart rate a bit). The single most important method of emotional renewal is to increase your heart rate. This is very true

7.- Take a shower.

8.- Get on with your day.

I have been following this Depression Help Ritual for approximately 2 years, and you have no idea how much has helped me, especially on those dreary days of winter.

As you see, this is simple routine that requires very little time and effort and there are some things in it that you must do any way, such as going to the bathroom, brushing your teeth and taking a shower. So, might as well make them part of your Depression Help Daily Ritual.

Of course this is not set in stone, you can make adjustments that fit your life style. Some people like to go to the gym first time in the morning, well go for it.

The intention here is to set up a simple, easy to follow morning ritual that you commit to follow every day with the intention of getting your day started on a solid and stable ground.

With this simple Depression Help Ritual you take care of your body, your mind and your spirit.

Depression - An Emotional Crippler

Depression is an emotional crippler. There is no disease in the world that can do to a person what depression can do. A person suffering from Depression can be physically fit, have no physical problems, not even a runny nose and yet still be unable to get out of bed in the morning. Yes, depression is that devastating.

Unlike a physical disease, like MS or Cancer, there are no outward physical symptoms of depression. It isn't something we can diagnose with an MRI or an x-ray. Depression is in the mind and modern medical science knows so relatively little about the human brain that it is very difficult to diagnose someone with severe depression. But it is a crippler just the same.

Every case of depression is different. Severe depression, however, is usually very easy to spot. For starters, the person who is severely depressed will want to spend most of the day in bed sleeping. There are two reasons for this. One is that depression takes a terrible toll on one's body. Every minute of depression is like an eternity. This makes getting through the day very difficult. As a result, the person gets very tired and needs as much rest as possible. The second reason for this is that a person who is severely depressed feels that sleep is the only escape from the terrible feeling that hangs over them day and night. The problem is, people who are severely depressed have a difficult time sleeping, so there is really no escape from this illness.

Another symptom of someone who is severely depressed is that the person seems to walk around in a fog all day. They can't concentrate on the things they have to do and if they have a job it is almost impossible to do that job. Many people who become severely depressed end up quitting their jobs because they just can't cope with life in general and working a demanding job is the last thing they're able to handle.

Many people who are seriously depressed look for any little thing to pull themselves out of it. The chance to go to a bar or maybe down to the beach is looked at as a vacation. These people usually manage to get themselves very emotionally high for a brief time where it looks like they have conquered their depression. But soon after the high has worn off, they fall back into their pit of despair. These people are called manic depressants because they have severe highs and lows.

Because depression does take a toll on a person's body, other symptoms are lack of appetite, changes in bathroom habits, loss of weight and other things. The sad thing is, the mind can literally do harm to the rest of the body if the mind is not healthy.

Depression is indeed an emotional crippler. The problem is, most people who are severely depressed won't seek help because they can't admit they are depressed as it is a sign of weakness. So the first thing to do, if you know somebody who you suspect is severely depressed is to urge them to get help. By doing just that much, they are one step closer to dealing with this terrible problem.

Ten Tips For Beating Depression

I heard about a woman who was suffering from depression, so her concerned husband took her to a psychiatrist. The doctor listened to the couple talk about their relationship, and then he said, "The treatment I prescribe is really quite simple." With that, he went over to the man's wife, gathered her up in his arms, and gave her a big kiss. He then stepped back and looked at the woman's glowing face and broad smile. Turning to the woman's husband, he said, "See! That's all she needs to put new life back into her." Expressionless, the husband said, "If you say so, Doc, I can bring her in on Tuesdays and Thursdays."

Okay, that's not how to treat depression, but I have a few other suggestions that make more sense. As a result of trial and error, over the course of thirty years, I've found ten blues battling strategies that often help me. These are not quick fixes, and this list is not exhaustive. It is also not a "must do" list.

When you're depressed, the last thing you need is a list of expectations to live up to. Don't stress about forcing yourself to accomplish all these things. They're not items to be checked off a list each day. The only one that is crucial is number one. After that, you can experiment with the others as you feel able to.

1) Get the Facts and Get Help.

Web sites and books on depression abound. Find them and do some research. You need to know what you're dealing with. Learn all you can about depression, so you can make educated decisions about your own health, learn how others cope, and find what medical treatment is available. Many books have self tests to help you determine whether you are experiencing clinical depression or temporary sadness in reaction to an event. In addition to reading everything you can get your hands on, one of the most important things you can do for yourself is seek medical help right away. Depression is much too complicated for you to solve on your own. Clinical depression is a serious medical condition that is very complicated to treat. Often it is a physical problem that requires long term medication. In my own experience, it's taken years of medication, counseling, and practicing various self help methods to slowly emerge from it, and it's still a daily battle.

Many people suffer needlessly from depression because they won't consult a doctor. If you're waiting for God to heal you, consider this: God gives scientists intelligence, which they often use to create helpful medicines; and He gives doctors wisdom to treat illnesses. Wise doctors and modern medicines are gifts from God and vehicles through which He often heals. Doctors can help you determine whether what you feel is truly depression, or if you are just reacting normally to a sad life situation.

If you've experienced depression, you already know it is not an illness you can "snap out of," no matter what others may tell you. It's not something to be ashamed of either. Depression can be a serious physical illness caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals or other factors. Like any serious medical condition, depression needs to be treated. Without the proper treatment, none of my suggested coping strategies will do any good.

2) Get Focused.

Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness pervade the life of a depressed person. The opposite of depression is a hopeful attitude. Focusing on hope and developing a hopeful heart is a must. It can be accomplished in a couple ways. One way is to search the Bible for the numerous Scriptures that tell how God has helped those who felt hopeless. It's helpful to memorize verses like these: Hebrews 4:15 (For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.); 2 Corinthians 4:8 & 9 (All-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.); Matthew 6:34 (Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.); Isaiah 41:10 (Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.); and John 14:27 (Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.).

The story of Job and the book of Psalms are the most worn pages in my Bible. While at my lowest, I've read and re-read them more times than I can count. My fridge and the mirrors in my house are covered with sticky notes reminding me of how God intervenes in the lives of His people.

Another way to focus on hope is by practicing positive self talk. This simply means telling yourself good things. I made a list for myself of positive affirmations like "God cares and understands my pain. God values me. God is giving me strength. I am made in God's image. I can choose my attitude. I choose not to put myself down. I'm a worthwhile person. I have a purpose. I enjoy life. I choose to be happy and I am competent." If you struggle with depression, I think you'll find it helpful to write down as many of these affirmations as you can think of and read them every day. Even if they're not currently true or you don't really believe them, it's okay. Say them to yourself anyway. Your mind will come to believe what you tell it, so tell it you are already the type of person you want to become. Be sure to remind yourself often that God is with you and He is pouring his strength on you. "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. ...For You are the God of my strength..." (Psalm 42:5 and 43:2 NKJV)

2 Corinthians 4:18 says we need to "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." Focusing on positive, heavenly things rather than earthly things will keep the feelings of hopelessness at bay.

3) Get Friendly.

Fellowship with other people is a mood lifter. Being alone is the worst thing you can do when you're depressed. Unfortunately, it's usually the very thing I want most. Depression grows best in isolation. I find it very difficult to get out and socialize when I'm depressed, but if I push myself to do it, I'm almost always glad later. Some ideas for socializing include joining a club, taking a class, inviting someone to meet you for lunch, or visiting a nursing home to chat with the residents there. It especially helps me to be with friends who enjoy the same hobbies I do. Shopping, watching movies, and rubber stamping are some of the things I enjoy doing alone, but they're twice as much fun when I do them with friends.

4) Get Giggling.

I collect cartoons and funny newspaper columns. I visit humor web sites online, watch funny movies, and read funny books. Best of all is laughing with friends. One of the reasons I enjoy my grandson so much is because he makes me laugh. I can act goofy with him and let go of my inhibitions. We dance and sing and make up silly rhymes. I have photographs of us wearing funny glasses with big black mustaches. I laugh every time I look at those. Laughing affects brain chemicals. It releases endorphins, which make you feel good. Chocolate does the same thing, but a good laugh is less fattening.

A friend of mine, who had a very frustrating job, told me that one day she was inspired by someone who had a huge, bright smile. She decided to emulate that woman and smile at everyone she encountered. Right away, she realized that smiling was addictive. It seemed to make the time pass more quickly and she found herself less frustrated and more at peace. She told me, "It sounds corny, but it really works!"

Paul wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4 NKJV) I've heard that a person can act her way into feeling better. Act happy, act glad, and it helps you to feel happy and glad. Paul exhibited this truth in his own life. Acts 16 tells how Paul and Silas were attacked, beaten, locked in stocks, and thrown into solitary confinement. Yet, at midnight, what were they doing? Feeling sorry for themselves? Asking God, "Why?" Moaning and complaining like I do? No, they were singing! Sure they were suffering, but they knew they were children of God. Paul may have even been remembering his personal encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. (Acts 22:10) They were praising God because they had been rescued from their sins, filled by the Holy Spirit, and added to God's family. No jailer could take that away. That was worth being grateful for, no matter what else happened to them. Even if they were to be killed, it would only send them to heaven. So why should they fear? That's some awesome faith, isn't it?

5) Get Rhythm.

When I feel a case of the gloomies descending, that is not the time to play melancholy music. Positive upbeat tunes are in order -- the sort of music you might hear at a parade or a circus. Music gets your toes tapping and your blood flowing. It makes you want to sing. Singing and dancing sends a message to your brain that you're happy. Your brain is an actualizer. Whatever it "thinks" is true, it works to bring about. This is why positive thinking works. You tell yourself, "I'm happy" often enough and your brain accepts it as fact. It actualizes that truth, making it happen. I've found that when depression takes hold of me, I tend to ruminate on negative thoughts. Listening to good, Christian music with positive lyrics helps to pour good things into my brain and crowd those negative things out. There's a list of good things to ponder in the fourth chapter of Paul's letter to the Philippian church. It says to think about whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, noble, right, or admirable. Philippians 4:8 says, "If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things." Christian music helps me accomplish this.

6) Get Busy

We all need to feel like we're involved in something significant. We need to participate in something outside ourselves. You might consider volunteering at a local women's shelter or food pantry. I've enjoyed both and discovered that when I stay busy helping others and concentrating on their problems, I get a break from focusing on my own troubles. This is how HUGS and HOPE began. It started with a small effort to make a difference for one family and it grew. I've learned that joy boomerangs. When you give it away, it comes back to you. Helping others gives you the heart-warming satisfaction of knowing you are making a difference in the world. That will elevate your mood as well as your self esteem.

7) Get Physical

This is two-fold. Physical exercise is good for us, but physical contact is equally important. Our bodies need to move to be healthy, and going for a walk is the easiest exercise for me to do when I'm depressed. It doesn't require as much energy and motivation as other activities. Breathing the fresh air and looking at the beauty of nature can be helpful, and taking my dog along is even better. Just watching his ears flop as he bounces down the road in front of me often brings a smile to my face.

Exercise affects brain chemicals, and the healing touch of physical closeness does too. If you're depressed, hug somebody - anybody, everybody! A hug is good medicine. It reduces stress and tension and it boosts your immunity to illness. Hugs raise self esteem and lower blood pressure. They feel good and make people happy. And they're free! Hugs are the universal language that communicates love and acceptance. They're healthy for the "hugger" as well as the "hugee."

8) Get Quiet

I need to lean heavily on God's word and spend time with Him. When I pray, I talk things over with God. When I read the Bible and meditate on it, I hear Him speak to me and I contemplate what He says. I've found this to be one of the best anti-depressants there is. However, I need to add a word of caution here. Too much solitude can worsen depression. Isolating yourself and avoiding people can make depression grow. Don't use meditation time as an excuse to avoid human contact. Time with God is of the utmost importance, but balance between quiet time alone and time spent with others is essential.

9) Get Forgiveness - And Give it Too!

I've read that many psychiatrists agree that depression is guilt or anger turned inward. David is an example of someone whose guilt led to depression. After committing adultery, he wrote, "When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer." (Psalm 32:3-4)

Sin makes you feel bad, but when you receive God's forgiveness, your guilt is removed; and often depression is removed too.

Depression can sometimes be caused from the need to forgive someone else or yourself (whomever is making you angry). Grudges cause feelings of frustration, which aggravate the hopeless feelings of depression. When we forgive, we let go of past hurts and give up bitterness. Then depression has no negativity on which to feed. If you free yourself from feelings of hate and open yourself up to feelings of love, you may feel as if the depression is physically lifting off your shoulders.

My friend Nance went through a difficult divorce, which left her bitter about the past, anxious about the future, and miserable in general. She harbored a lot of grudges and guilt, and she worried constantly. She felt the need to control everything in her life, yet she knew she couldn't. After attending a women's retreat, Nance realized what her negativity was doing to her.She released her worries, fears, anger, and resentments at the foot of the cross. Then she felt a renewal in her heart. She was happy and at peace.

When she was dying, Nance told me that the most difficult thing she'd ever had to do was forgive - both her ex-husband and herself -- for past mistakes. She said forgiving was even harder than dying!

Forgiveness isn't a simple one time event. It's a process that often takes time (sometimes years), but it's an important step to healing.

Jesus taught forgiveness when he said we'd be forgiven in the same way we forgive others, and when he told Peter we should forgive, not seven times, but seventy times seven. Of course, Jesus also lived forgiveness. While hanging on the cross, he looked at his torturers and said, "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)

10) Get Thankful.

When I'm depressed, I need to make a conscious effort to count my blessings. An attitude of hopelessness and discontent has a hard time competing with an attitude of gratitude. 1 Thessalonians 5:28 says, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." It's important to remember that depression is not fatal and it doesn't last forever. You WILL survive! Remind yourself that this cloud of despair will pass eventually. It may seem like there's no light at the end of the tunnel, but trust that there is; and be thankful for that, as you wait for the light to appear.

So, while kisses from your husband (or a psychiatrist) may be great, they can't cure depression. But along with medication and the proper treatment, now you have some practical steps you can take for your own well being. There are times when one of these strategies may be more helpful than the rest. Other times, it may seem that none of them makes a huge difference. But I keep practicing all of them anyway, because I know they are steps toward a healthier lifestyle. Following them on a regular basis may not eliminate depression forever, but they help me to minimize their severity.

These tips can be helpful for people who are not depressed too. They can be useful for anyone who is a little discouraged, a little blue, or needs to refocus on more positive things in life.

I hope that by trying these ideas you may find yourself on the way to experiencing more joy.

******************

Depression: How To Watch The News

Sometimes, one of the hardest things to do when you suffer from depression is to watch the news. In this time of sensationalism, it can sometimes be hard to watch the news without allowing it to send you deeper into your depression. There are a few things to do so as not to suffer from that.

The first is to buffer the news. Watch something funny before. Since the news usually ends on upbeat notes, that should keep your mood up. Another technique is to do something while you watch the news, so that you don't spend all of your focus on the news. Read a book or do a crossword while watching the news. By focusing on the news only, you are more likely that you will allow it to adjust your mood. By giving it only part of your attention, you can stabilize your mood a bit more. You can also watch the news with someone else. That way, you have someone with whom you can talk about what you are seeing which might help you to release any anxiety that you are feeling.

Sometimes, watching the news on television is more harmful than helpful. The internet allows you to get news whenever you want and that might work better. Yahoo and Google both have comprehensive news sites and companies like the New York Times and CNN also maintain extensive web presences. It would allow you to watch the news a little at a time and get headlines without needing to get too much information.

6 Types of Depression

Understanding the different types is crucial in order to know what solutions you would need in order to aid you in eliminating it.

1. 
   Major / Clinical

This type of depression is commonly known by people because it is one that shows clear symptoms, unlike mild or even moderate depression which sometimes go unnoticed. It is the classical or what is referred to as clinical depression. A person who has this type of depression gets depressing thoughts and is unable to control it. He stays with being sad for a long period of time and hates himself rather than putting the blame on to others for the way he is. He avoids people and keeps to himself.

2. 
   Moderate
   

Moderate depression lies somewhere between mild depression and major depression. The symptoms of moderate depression are usually noticeable and if it is left untreated, it could escalate into a major one.

3. 
   Mild
   

Mild depression is the least severe form that a sufferer may experience. The symptoms are mild and thus do not cause a major impact on the sufferer. Sufferers of mild depression may experience distress and disruption but often neglect their condition with the assumption that the symptoms are not severe enough to warrant treatment.

4. 
   Childhood
   

As the name suggests, this refers to depression that surfaced during childhood. Childhood depression can be defined as an illness when the feelings of depression persist and interfere with a child or adolescent's ability to function.

5. 
   Bipolar
   

Bipolar depression is also known as manic-depression and refers to a case whereby the sufferer has large mood swings that ranges from very energetic to extreme lows. Both moods may last for several weeks at a time.

6. 
   Psychotic
   

Psychotic depression is one of the most severe kinds of depression. A person suffering from this may experience hallucinations, start to hear voices in his head and thus becomes delusional about what is happening. A psychotic breakdown may occur if a person suffering from psychotic depression does not get the necessary help.

Fortunately, depression is an illness that can be cured. There are countless of remedies in the market place ranging from expensive consultations to self help books that teaches you how to eliminate depression naturally. In conclusion, what you have just learnt in this article is the 6 different types of depression and identified the type of depression you are suffering from. Having a better understanding, you can now make a more educated decision in which type of remedy would assist you.

Depression and Relationships

Depression is a toxic soup of negative emotions that extends for a longer than expected period of time. Many people who struggle with depression cannot feel emotions such as joy, pleasure, or grief. They have become numb and colorless. Depression is much like a vampire sucking the life blood dry until only a shell of the once enthusiastic vibrant person exists. In this informational article titled "Depression and Relationships" we will explore the many faces of depression in relationships.

 

Relationships are a delicate balance between feelings and ego. These intricate personal interactions are totally reliant on how you relate to others. The most common characteristics of depression in relationships are withdrawal and avoidance. Other common characteristics are irritability and overly critical behavior.

 

Let's see how this might look in the Smith household.

 

Joe Smith has always been a loving family man but recently his emotions have started to get the best of him due to financial difficulties. Just the other day mild mannered Joe arrived home from work only to find his wife vacuuming rather than fixing dinner. Joe explodes, ranting and raving about dinner, noise, and getting a new wife that knows her place. Joe's wife Cindy is stunned. She has never heard her husband talk this way and decides to try to avoid a confrontation by simply apologizing. She tells Joe that she lost tract of time and it won't happen again. Joe simply ignores her apology and storms out of the house leaving her in tears. End

 

Most people reading the story above think that situations like the one above only happen to other people. Perhaps you know someone who has been acting out of character lately. So let's explore a number of ways depression affects relationships and see whether any of the bullet points might remind you of someone you know.

 

* Recently, I just can't seem to be as compassionate as normal

* Is it my imagination or are my friends and family avoiding me

* I seem to be becoming more reclusive even though it's really not in my nature

* I haven't been able to live up to the expectations of others

* My desire for intimacy is almost nonexistent

* There is no one that cares or understands me

* I have never felt more alone

* I am looking old and tired

* My temper is getting worse and my fuse is getting shorter

* There just isn't anyone to talk to about my problems

 

Depressed people normally go one of two ways, either they withdraw or become irritable and aggressive. Which ever way they go it makes depression and relationships a difficult matter to handle, especially for the people closest to them. If you know someone whose personality has changed for the worst and you suspect that depression might be the primary driver of their behavior then convincing them to get help would be the right thing to do.

 

Additionally, many people with mild to moderate depression are looking for affordable answers that don't involve extended therapy sessions or expensive prescription drugs. For these individuals natural depression remedies could are options worth considering. Many of the more popular remedies for depression are herbal blends which are very safe and have shown to be effective in both promoting and maintaining emotional and mental health.

How to Beat Depression - Are Depression and Pessimism Related?

While I sit here looking to expand in my take of Winston Churchill's famous quote, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty," it occurs to me that an interesting question abounds...

Is there a relationship between pessimism and depression?

As an ever-optimistic person, I will still point out that I've found my way to the low spots in life - those times when I'm simply going through the motions, doing what I have to do, without enjoying any of it. If you asked me about those periods of my life and what was causing my lull or indifference, more than likely, I wouldn't be able to tell you what the problem was. Most likely, I'd write it off as exhaustion, over-commitment to way too many things (because of my and my wife's incapacity to ever say no - to anybody), the new diet I had been on, or the weather. Said that to say, even the most optimistic person on the planet can become depressed. But I would have to assume that a generally optimistic look at life and life events would have to be solid medicine for any funk or depression I might slip into. Perhaps, because of my outlook on life and my optimism, I rebound quickly from depression and don't ride that rut very long.

Conversely, it strikes me that the exact opposite should be true for a generally pessimistic person. Not only would they likely have a tougher time bouncing out of a depression they are already in, I would also expect that slipping into a depression would be a lot easier. Incidentally, there appears to be a lot of research about depression causing pessimism; however I wonder about the inverse. I wonder what numbers of cases of depression develop directly from pessimism?

Researching reasons for pessimism doesn't leave much solid, scientific ground to stand on either. Some seem to think pessimism (not the result of a depression) can be a bad habit. Other conjecture suggests that it's genetics. Others believe it's a mechanism of lashing out or non-conformance - a means to equalize view points and level debates - playing perpetual, negative devil's advocate. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of interesting directions to take this discussion, and plenty of questions to ask.

I'll dig deeper into pessimism being a cause of depression more later on, however this train of thought has really sparked my curiosity in other factors behind pessimism. If it really is genetic predisposition or behavioral or a bad habit, maybe it can be reversed. What better strategy to approach a battle with depression than with optimism - particularly if being optimistic is something you can learn to be? There are some interesting studies on optimistic peoples' lack of inclination towards depression.

Depression - A Modern Evolution

Depression is increasingly on the rise in our society. Its diagnosis has exploded over the last twenty years, and as a result, the medical field has responded with pill after pill.

But depression isn't a disease. It can't be transmitted from person to person like the flu. So why is depression on the rise? There is much speculation, such as our fast paced society, the rigors of work related stress, higher social expectations, and more demanding social conformities.

It's ironic, really, that in a society that is bent on entertainment and comfort we are more depressed than those who lived on the old frontier 200 years ago. The dangers back then were more terrifying, work was harder, and they certainly didn't have nearly any of the modern conveniences that we enjoy today. Yet we don't read about them being depressed, do we?

I'm not a medical doctor, but I am a professional counselor. From my years of counseling, I have discovered that the more materialistic individuals are the more prone to depression they seem to be.

This also coincides with the spiritual degradation of our society. 200 years ago, you would find a society much stronger on spiritual issues such as God, the Bible, and faith. They had little in the way of conveniences. They were forced to live by their wits and rely on whatever measure of faith they possessed. And, by in large, they were happy.

Now, we have a society that is bent on relying on produced comforts or entertainment. Big houses have become the social standard that so many people are judged by--houses so big that both husband and wife are forced to work all day for a house they have no time to live in. We must have the latest car, computer, PDA, TV, or other modern comfort in order to be happy.

We worry about our figure, our weight, our hair color, our hip size, and our bank account since we have been breed to believe that these things necessary to make friends or to catch a decent mate. 200 years ago, you were too busy fighting off the elements, wild animals, natives, starvation, and other more basic needs that you naturally made friends by the simple means of being friendly and helping out your neighbor.

Back then, few people thought they were worthless in a backwoods society where everyone played an important role for survival. Now, we get depressed because we have a pimple on the end of our nose.

Modern society has produced its own monster, and it's devouring us! Depression would be easily cured if people reverted back to a more spiritual existence. I don't mean becoming a monk, or a priest, or other such thing. I mean where people and their needs are more important to us than modern comforts.

We are all spiritual beings. When we love others, help others, be there for others, we have no time for depression.

Honestly, depression is a very selfish condition. It is the total focus on 'you' and what you believe you are missing. For years, I've been counseling people and their problems. I have found that when I am down myself, focusing on someone else's issues and then working together with them to find solutions has always brought me back up and energized me.

When someone looks at you with an expression of true thankfulness and then says with their voice throbbing with emotion, "Thank you so much," it is very difficult to be depressed. Very.

Most depressed people incapacitate their ability to climb out of their own depression. They like to wallow in their own self-pity. But if you can get your focus off of yourself and stop believing that material goods are the key to your happiness-others are-then you'll be able to climb out of your depression.

I have put this to the test, not only with myself, but with dozens of other depressed people. The results have been extremely encouraging!

Depression - When Depression Strikes and How to Cope With It!

Depression is a simple reaction due to lack of control or monotony. People get depressed when they experience financial constraints or losing a loved one. But there are people who have genetic predispositions when it comes to depression.

Varying degrees of chronic depressed moods are caused by chemical imbalances that happen in the brain. Hormonal changes can also prompt depression while seasonal cycles can trigger depressive moods. Most persons who are suffering from a physical illness also get depressed.

Depression is an example of mood disorders. Other examples of mood disorders are dysthymia, postpartum disorder, and bipolar disorder. A person with manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder, experiences periods of extreme highs (or happiness) that is followed by extreme lows (or sadness). Clinical depression is a mood disorder that is considered as long-term depression while seasonal affective disorder relates to the cyclical mode's seasons.

Every year, more and more people are seeking for medical help to treat their depression disorders. The stigma of being depressed becomes less but more people are already claiming that they are experiencing the symptoms of depressed person.

Various types of drugs are already available to help treat people suffering from clinical and manic depression. There are also medical doctors who give prescriptions to these types of drugs to their patients who claim that they are suffering from depression. The problem is, most of these doctors just give prescriptions without even performing psychiatric tests to determine of the person is really eligible to take such drugs.

People who think that they are suffering from depression should consult a psychologist. It is the psychologist's role to determine what kind of therapy is needed by the person suffering from depression. After being diagnosed by the psychologist, the services of a psychiatrist could also be needed. It is the psychiatrist who gives the prescription on the drugs that will help in balancing the chemical imbalances in the brain. Depressed people can easily be treated with the help of medicines and series of therapy sessions in order to help the person determine cause of their depression.

There are two ways to treat persons with mood disorders like depression. The traditional way is the recommendation made by the psychologist or psychiatrist which includes giving prescriptions for antidepressants and conducting a psychological counseling. The alternative way refers to the use of natural remedies such as taking supplements and herbal medicines, acupuncture, exercise therapy, massage therapy, hypnotherapy, talk therapy, and 5-senses therapy.

Different types of treatment can help treat persons with mood disorders. However, it should be remembered that the treatment applied to a person would also work with the other person. For example, the walk therapy which is a 30-minute walk everyday gives an immediate result to a person's lift in mood. But when the same treatment is applied in St. John's Wort, the result became visible after a few days time. This only shows that each person is really different from another. What might be applicable on a person's situation may not be the case with the other.

Depression - 7 Self Help Tips For Mild Depression

Relaxation from mild depression is plausible! You just have to take note of these self-help tips to get yourself up from that state. Depression is a psychological condition where a person's gloomy emotions start to lead his or her lifestyle in a downward spiral. A person's depression can last for more than just one episode and can go on for months and years to come.

It is wise to know symptoms in which a depressive can start relaxation techniques and hopefully, prevent any other depressing thoughts or feelings.

The first technique is to get a good distraction when you are feeling blue. If you are working and it still gets to you, increase your workload. The more you don't think about it, the more it helps you. Better to be busy than to be lonely. The second tip is to keep an active lifestyle. Being idle does not help depressed people because it gives them more time to think about how cruel the world is. Thirdly, a great distraction and stress-reliever is sex. It is not only good for your mood and pleasure, but for your body as well.

Next tip is to make sure that you have a healthy diet. Avoid your junk food and sugar intake and instead, increase your consumption of wholegrain cereals, vegetables, fruits, lean meat, low fat dairy and dish. These foods have the right elements to relieve your depression. For example, the amino acid tryptophan that are found in turkey, chicken, peas and nuts are great food sources to alleviate depression. The next tip is to exercise! Eating a good diet must come with good exercise. Keeping the body fit and healthy will ward off any unnecessary negative emotions. Also, exercising will help you space out and concentrate on working out instead of thinking about sadness. The next tip is to get familiar with aromatherapy. This is an alternative stress-reliever because it appeals to your sense of smell. Finally, indulge in relaxation. Take a break and rest -there is no harm to it.

Relaxation will come to you if you apply any of these tips and surely, your depression will most likely be controlled and hopefully, would not return any time sooner. Take action as soon as you can, besides, what have you got to lose?

Remember, people can and do make recoveries from depression and go on to lead their best lives imaginable. Seek help.

Will Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMI) Cure Brain Problems and Increase IQ in The Future?

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive method for applying electromagnetic fields to the brain. It is the application through a medical device of a low 0.9 Hertz frequency stimulation by an electromagnetic field to the brain. It requires more than one session. One of the side effects is a tendency to underestimate time. Another side effect may be a slight headache. It is contra-indicated in epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.

Single sessions of rTMS placed over the temporal or temporoparietal cortex can cure a very short term problem with tinnitus or ringing in your ears. Repeated sessions of rTMS may successfully treat tinnitus, but the treatment is not known to cure tinnitus. The results are variable. It may have more success for those having this problem due to long term effects of drug addiction. This treatment may also be tried for some forms of hearing loss other than those that are noise induced. Hearing loss from medications and diseases may find some help with TMS. Meniere's Disease could also be helped to some degree with this therapy.

This treatment affects the auditory cortex and may help other problems associated with the auditory cortex including auditory hallucinations, Parkinson's disease, memory problems in the motor cortex, flashbacks, depression, and trichotillomania. It was tried for major depression and the therapy was used on the patient five times per week and there was successful. It is very hard to treat major depression and this may turn out to be one of the best options. This treatment is noninvasive and causes no pain. The treatment may have results that extend beyond the motor cortex area of the brain.

Some studies indicate that this treatment increases brain plasticity and could have the ability to increase intelligence given the optimal combination of brain nutrients and other alternative therapies. This treatment may be a way to enhance learning and increase memory. TMS could be wonderful for those having memory and learning disabilities connected to Parkinson's disease, head trauma, brain injuries, ischemia, memory loss due to cardiac problems from low oxygen levels in the brain. These are areas of medicine that very difficult to manage and treat.

It would be very helpful if these patients were given detoxification for heavy metals and pesticides prior to administering the TMS. Oral chelation with formulas available in health food stores and products like rutin, chorella, organic wheat grass, organic barley capsules, aloe, parsley, garlic, and alpha lipoic acid will safely remove toxins over time. It will take approximately six to twelve months to remove most of the toxins found in a middle-aged adult. Saunas can accomplish this with about three to twelve sessions lasting about thirty minutes.

© Dr R Stone, MD-India

Depression Information

Depression information is essential to cure a person suffering from depression disorder. To cure a disease, the cause and symptoms have to be known. Hence by learning the depression information it becomes easy to treat the disease with ease. Above all, you should know what depression actually is!

It is nothing but a mental health disorder which disturbs your normal activities like eating, sleeping and thinking. The people who are affected by depression are always found to be gloomy and passive most of the times. This health disorder affects the thoughts and moods of the person who possesses it.

It is a little difficult to diagnose the depression disorder. The symptoms may last long for more than a month or year until it is diagnosed. Once it is diagnosed, you have to undergo a proper treatment to get completely cured. There are medications like anti-depressant medicines and psychotherapy available for this purpose. The severity of the depression depends on the type which it belongs to. There are many types of depression available.

The three most common depression types are; Major depression, Dysthmia and Bipolar disorder. Depression has to be treated properly else the person affected may go to any extent like committing suicide. It is far more dangerous than it seems. There are many symptoms which reveal the existence of depression disorder. Few of them are; decrease in energy, fatigue, irritability, thoughts of suicide, digestive disorders and so on. These are some of the common symptoms. There are many severe symptoms and they vary from person to person.

Staying Positive While Depressed

Depression is a common condition; an estimated 10 percent of Americans will suffer from depression at some time in their lives. I suffer from clinical depression. Depression overwhelmed my life with feelings of loneliness, negative thoughts and emotions; I had difficulty going to work, talking to friends and family. My energy levels both emotional and physical were low. My life spiraled out of control. Eventually medication and hospitalization were necessary. They helped stabilize my condition, but staying positive while recovering from depression was difficult. My medication brought some relief, but I spiraled back into deep depression twice, at great cost to my life. I found that staying positive was the only effective way to overcome depression.

How do you stay positive while depressed?

It is difficult. Depression in itself brings negative thoughts; even medication will only ease some of those thoughts. In addition, the stigma, the financial, social and career problems caused by depression left me feeling hopeless. Staying positive is critical to a complete recovery. I keep a small notebook. I record negative thoughts and emotions that occur during my day. I record the time of day, and what I was doing. Then, each night I go through my notebook and look for patterns, or triggers to the negative thoughts and emotions. I replace the negative thought in my journal with a positive one that I wished or could have thought. The negative thoughts cause the negative emotions, so the idea is to train or reprogram your mind to have positive thoughts, which in turn create positive emotions. By writing down the negative thoughts and developing a plan for how to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts, I was ready for them when they occurred.

Negative thoughts overwhelm me; I can't get them out of my mind let alone replace them with positive thoughts. What can I do?

It's like a catch 22. I needed to stop thinking negatively, but my brain wanted to hold on to the negative thoughts. I wanted a break from it. I found two things that brought relief from constant flow of negative thoughts and emotions I was experiencing- laughter and exercise. I developed a routine that incorporated both into my life. As my routine progressed, relief from the negative thoughts lasted longer. My ability to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts increased, and instead of spiraling down deeper into depression, I progressed further up into happiness

Laugh? All I want to do is cry, How can I laugh?

For me, it was watching sitcoms. They brought a half-an hour or so of relief everyday. I watched them before going to work, and after work, eventually my overall mood improved and the people around me reacted more positively to me. It was like a chain reaction, I became happier. I started the day happy and ended it with a smile. I stopped watching dramas and the news. Both paint a depressing picture of the world. What worked for me may not work for you. You might try having dinner with a fun friend, writing a funny story, playing with your dog or cat, but laugh. The old saying, laughter is the best medicine holds especially true for depression.

Exercise? I have no energy, it is a struggle to get out of bed, how do I exercise?

The key, start slowly. First, I walked around the block, and added a few steps each day. Eventually I was could walk three miles. I picked a pleasant route. So that I it was a pleasurable journey. I picked one with lots of people, trees and relaxing scenery. After the walk, I rewarded myself. The walks cleared my mind from the emotional clutter. My energy levels increased; I could walked further each day, and my outlook on life improved. The important thing is to start small, and get a routine going. Walking worked for me, but swimming, biking, running, even household chores, might work for you, but get your body moving.

Staying positive while depressed is critical for recovery. When overwhelmed with negative emotions It's difficult to stay positive, but it's something you must do. Three of the most effective ways to stay positive while depressed are journaling, laughing and exercising.

Common Types of Depression in Women

Depression in women is unquestionable, probably because women, in general, are emotional than their men counterpart. What's sad about it is that women find it hard to overcome this condition. There are actually a lot of most common types of depression in women, which experts classified. However, the following are just some of them that mostly women can easily relate to.

Post-natal depression

This type of depression in women occurs several months after giving birth. This condition is due to drastic changes in lifestyle, constant dependence on other people, and sense of increase responsibility. What happens is that first-time and young mothers find it difficult to do certain things that motherhood brings the right way and more quickly, such as new responsibility of nursing their child.

To overcome this condition, forcing to play the role of a loving mother will do no good, especially if you don't recognize any feelings towards your child at first, which is rather normal. Take things slowly at your own pace, but make sure not to prolong your adjustment period. Remember that it is your duty to look after your baby. And once you get acquainted and starting to get used of your role as a mother, you'll do better than you thought. Additionally, if your relatives or friends offer help, accept it because you will need time to get back to normal senses again after returning from hospital.

Age-dependent depression

Depression in women may be associated with age. Those women in climacteric age can suffer from depression. Women's hormonal background of organism changes during this time and most often depressive condition is observed. The coming of menopause also results to psychological pressure that may disturb women.

To conquer this condition, you should try not to change your day-to-day routine. Keep in mind that climacteric does not mean the end of the world. Only you know the changes that happen to you, unless of course you spread the words. Menopausal is a natural phase in life that all, which means without exception, women have to go through. Therefore, don't make a tragedy out of it. You may want to consult your doctor if hormonal therapy can do you any good.

Monthly depression

Monthly depression in women refers to premenstrual. This condition can be detected few days before menstruation period, during or right after it, or depending on a certain women's distinction.

Since you don't have any ways to hide this condition, you may want to consider some ways to cope with it such as staying at home or making no important plans. Most likely, you may have already noticed the period of your cycle that you can't control this condition. Therefore, it's easier for you to plan your activities ahead and "spare" those days that you can't be active.

Depression in women associated to exhaustion

This condition is also called chronic tiredness. This usually occurs if you overestimate your strengths and if you have increased responsibilities for the duties you assume. This is why is it important that you alternate work with rest, otherwise time will come that you will no longer be able to do previous work and suffer because of this condition. To prevent exhaustion depression in women, make it a point to have a full day rest on your day off. Physical and mental rest is essential to keep you productive in your work.

Overcoming Perfectionism and Depression

Do you demand perfection in all areas of your life, from home to work and everything in between? It seems like a noble aspiration...even one we should all possibly strive for. However, perfectionism actually makes people miserable. 

Perfectionistic attitudes can defeat you when you least expect it causing depression. Overcoming perfectionism can be challenging since it is generally a very deep-seated habit.   Perfectionists encounter many problems with everyday living. They usually feel they are letting down those around them (including themselves) in both personal and professional relationships. They have to understand that NOTHING is ever perfect. Life is full of uncertainty. 

According to Alistair Ostell, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Bradford Management Center in England, perfectionists are more susceptible to emotional and physical problems. They often show symptoms of insomnia, chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, depression and heart palpitations. These symptoms occur at a much higher rate than in those who are more flexible or open-minded.   "If there's one thing perfectionism does, it rigidifies behavior," author Hara Estroff Marano says in his Psychology Today article. "It constricts people just when the fast-moving world requires more flexibility and comfort with ambiguity than ever. It turns people into success slaves."  

Perfectionism, at its most extreme, can actually paralyze people when their compulsive desire to be perfect overrides reality. This leads to stress-related illnesses, relationship problems, low self-esteem, a decrease in productivity and sometimes as extreme as suicidal thoughts.  

How do you know if perfectionism is paralyzing you? Do you ever think the following self-limiting beliefs? How often do the following limiting beliefs keep you from achieving your goals and dreams?   - I must rigidly control everything in my life - People will not like me if I am not perfect - If someone criticizes me, they must be stupid - If I didn't achieve a goal, I must be a failure - It's NOT OK to make a mistake - I get depressed when something doesn't come out like I planned - If I can't do it to my standards, I just won't do it  

"This is not to say that you shouldn't strive to do your best. It's just that if you force yourself to be perfect all the time you'll never feel like you are," Hale Dwoskin of the Sedona Method says. "The best way to release your desire for perfection is to let go of wanting to be perfect or to create perfection," he continues. "It is also extremely helpful to allow yourself to love or accept yourself as you are. The more you love and accept yourself as you are, and the more you allow yourself to accept your performance, the happier you'll feel, and the more likely you'll be to produce stellar results."  

It's helpful to note that even the 7 wonders of the world are not perfect. Let go of the feeling that you must be perfect and placing unrealistic expectations upon yourself.   The reality is that even if you're not perfect, you can still be GREAT. Overcoming Perfectionism can greatly free up your creativity and allow you to become the person you were meant to be.

Fighting That Frozen Feeling - Beating the Apathy Caused by Depression

Depression can be like a tremendous weight, keeping you down so you don't want to function. Sometimes, it's a constant battle with oneself to get up, get ready and get dressed every day. Life has a way of piling stuff on us, and it is our job to un-freeze our bodies and keep going during even the most difficult of times. Don't give up on yourself for having depression, it is possible to increase your energy and drive. It just takes finding out what solutions work best for you specifically.

Having battled very severe depression for most of my life, I know first-hand about the strong urges to sleep, to do nothing and just vegg out in front of TV. Been there, done that. We all need "mental health breaks" from time to time, to re-charge ourselves. This is about the kind of apathy that affects everyday functioning, and the ability to do everyday tasks in life. The severely depressed often feel unable to do anything, and let themselves go mentally and physically. It takes energy to take care of oneself, and even small tasks can be a burden when you're depressed. When you don't participate in life, it feels harder and harder to function, and the more you put off connecting to others. Strong apathy is a wake-up message to work harder and perservere. The way I look back at my own life, it was either give up or get going. I chose to get going. It takes hard work, but is most definitely worth the effort. If I can do it, so can you.

Every day, push yourself to do one more task than you normally do. It's your choice, but choose projects that aren't too hard to accomplish. In time, build up to harder tasks as your confidence grows. Think of what you want to do and work on achieving your goals, one step at a time. Write it all down, if you like. I kept a diary, documenting everything that I did to keep track of my progress. It worked, and kept me motivated. One by one, tasks are accomplished and it feels good. The more you do it, the more those good feelings and confidence grow, like a snowball rolling down a hill, gathering momentum as it goes.

Don't overanalyze or judge situations that upset you. Minimize the drama in your life. A family member of mine is very high-strung and finds things to worry about that aren't there. She works herself into a frenzy by overjudging everyone, and being around her can really be exhausting. It is best to limit your exposure to people who consistently bring you down or stress you out. Take situations and problems at face value. Don't read into them, just accept the reality of each issue as you experience it (don't pretend it doesn't exist or waste energy thinking how things "should" be.) It takes practise to accept some problems as they are. Thinking too much about everything drains personal energy and makes you tired. When depression is strong, that is when energy is needed the most. Preserve it by training your mind to minimize drama and criticism in your life.

Simplifying matters helps for coping with problems. Instead of looking at a problem as a big, unsurmountable task; break it into smaller and more manageable ones. Write important appointments down and don't just commit them to memory. Be as efficient with your energy as you can, since it can be a precious commodity when you have depression. When I get a burst of energy, I do housework. One task at a time. When really motivated, I clean the whole apartment, in an organized and methodical manner. It feels good to get something accomplished. Build on that energy, bit by bit. Exercise, whether it's housework or jogging, produces endorphins, or "feel good" chemicals in your body. By moving, you are helping yourself, more than you realize.

Work on fighting negative inner thoughts that plague you. Fight it by thinking of a positive statement, for every negative one you think to yourself. It is what therapists teach, to counteract the negative self-talk. It does work, but takes time. Affirmations; short positive statements, are helpful in working on destroying those inner gloomy thoughts. Practise positivity and in time, those negative thoughts may lessen.

Do whatever it takes to fight the "frozen" feelings of depression. We all have good and bad days. Go with the flow, and ride the fluctuation like a wave. Just realize the feelings of apathy are there then let them go. It takes persistence. Being very stubborn, I have spent my life practising these techniques, and am very high-functioning for someone with such strong depression inside. My mood is calm now, and there is a large amount of peace in life now. It took learning how to deal with tough times, and not to freak out when they occur. It's all about being good to yourself. Inner peace feels great. Life is good, and getting better all the time. You can do it. Just believe in yourself and never stop working to improve your life. Make happiness happen.

Wonder How to Know If Your Spouse is Depressed? 4 Signs and a Solution

Have you ever wondered how to know if your spouse is depressed?

Exactly why this is relevant is because if this is not dealt with, it can cause severe problems in even the best of marriages. Therefore it is important to recognize signs that your spouse is depressed. We are talking about prolonged characterizations of these signs. Everyone exhibits some of these things from time to time.

You want to understand how to know if your spouse is depressed, and if it is a serious state of depression.

If you recognize and deal with these signs at an early enough stage, it might just save marriage. See, when depression depression is serious, even the best of marriages can be threatened.

I understand how you feel. There have been times when I have seen my wife exhibit one or more of these signs, and I wondered if trouble were on the way. On the other hand, I also have exhibited one or more of these signs, and I may have caused worry for my wife.

So, how do you discern whether the signs he or she is exhibiting is of a serious nature?

People who are successful at learning how to know if their spouse is depressed have discovered a secret.

What is that secret?

Here it really is: Four characteristics that are prolonged (for weeks or months at a time) and not just temporary in nature can be signs of serious depression in your spouse. Let's check out those four characteristics of depression, and then let us look at a solution.

1. Sadness

First of all, you are able to see signs that your spouse is depressed when he or she appears sad all the time. This is an ongoing sadness. No matter what you do, you cannot seem to cheer up your spouse. All the old things that brought happiness and laughter do not work anymore.

2. Tiredness

Not only can you see prolonged sadness. In addition, you can see prolonged tiredness in a spouse who is depressed. We all get tired from time to time, but we can usually explain why. We can point to things out of the ordinary that we have done, or we can point to long periods of work; however someone who is experiencing serious depression may feel tired all the time--without normal explanations for that condition.

3. Anger

Besides sadness and tiredness, you also can see prolonged anger in a husband or wife who is going through depression. Those individuals may not be able to explain, even to themselves, why they are angry all the time. (This may not fit every case of depression, but many times it does.)

4. Withdrawal

We all like some solitude from time to time, but a seriously depressed person can move more and more into a state of withdrawal. These people get to where they don't want to be around anyone from the outside, and they may get to where they will withdraw from you too.

5. Understand and Encourage to Get Help

Having seen the signs of prolonged sadness, tiredness, anger and withdrawal, you really need to be sensitive to what is going on with your spouse. If you react wrongly, you will probably compound the situation.

These four signs that your spouse is depressed are serious enough to give you cause for concern.

Be understanding of your spouse. He or she does not even know why this is happening. Without creating sparks and raising defensiveness, in a calm manner, begin to talk to your husband or wife about the situation. When he or she comes to the point of admitting that he (she) is depressed and that he (she) does not seem to be able to improve things on his (her) own, suggest that he (she) receive professional help. All the while, being understanding (to the best of your ability) while you suggest this.

If he or she agrees, you may see a dramatic recovery. Is this something that can save marriage--specifically, your marriage? It can be.

We now have seen that observing prolonged sadness, tiredness, anger and withdrawal will help you to learn how to know if your spouse is depressed. Then after that, you can take steps to deal with the situation.

Warning: Only reading about these signs just isn't enough. You'll have to act.

Get all the details you can to to help maintain and enrich your marriage.

Suppressing Your Anger Leads to Depression

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. We deal with anger all our life, and by "deal" I mean either suppress or express it. But nobody teaches us how to channel it properly.

And there are so many things to be angry about in this recession - our unemployment, followed by fruitless job searches for one. Relationships breaking because of our depression and low self-esteem, pressure to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. In other words, trying to survive is stressful and definitely anger-inducing.

Here is a combination of symptoms of suppressed anger you should pay attention to if you want to find out if you are heading towards depression or anxiety.

• problems with your digestion (heartburn, gastric ulcers, IBS - irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, gastritis, etc.);


• clogged arteries causing heart problems;


• high blood pressure;


• arthritis;


• weak immune system;


• any addiction like alcohol, drugs, tobacco, etc.;


• any other disorders like OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), eating disorders, etc. connected with obsessing about something;


• trying to make other people feel bad about themselves so you can feel better;


• feeling need to participate in public outbursts of anger or violent behaviour;

So instead of suppressing your feeling of anger to the point of becoming mentally and physically ill, you should learn how to address it correctly.

Here are few tips on how to deal with your feelings:

• Do not shout. When you shout you lose control over yourself and over the situation, Learn to be assertive instead. There are probably some personal development courses which can help you with that.


• Use relaxation techniques to relieve the tension in your body and mind. Don't allow yourself to accumulate stress.


• Make sure you eat healthily and exercise.


• Analyse the patterns of your anger. Does the situation provoking anger reminds you of some trauma from your childhood? Did something similar happen in the past? Make a list comparing what you did then and what you can do now. See for yourself how much more powerful you can be now by keeping it cool and explaining why you are angry with someone.


• Talk to a trusted friend or a councilor, you might need someone who can give you fresh outlook on the situation triggering your anger.


• Pour your feelings into a diary, it's a good way to see how your mental state changes over time and see the reasons for your anger, anxiety and depression.


• If you are too angry to think and rationalise, - walk away. In such state of mind you waste your energy and gain nothing.

Remember, anger can be constructive when it challenges you to change the situation which caused it, or it can be destructive when you do not control it, it doesn't seek solution and it drains you. It's your choice how to act on it.

Stop Your Depression Now - Depression Busting Tools Reviewed

"Stop Your Depression Now" reviewed.

Sharon Schurman a Retired Clinical Counselor reveals the 'Secrets Successful Psychiatrists and Psychologists Don't Want You to Know' in her book: "Stop Your Depression Now".

Testimonials from readers say the ebook is "easy to read" and "we finally got the answers we needed" which sum up the practical approach of this book.

Sharon has spent her life treating depressed families, individuals, and corporate clients. Now she's sharing these years of experience with you through the pages of this book.

"Stop Your Depression Now!" is described as the complete solution for anyone who wants to overcome his or her depression. She states that she has helped hundreds of patients using the techniques in the book.

What is different about this book that recommends it to the average person wanting some help with depression? Well you no longer have to deal with the all of the "technical" books out there that leave you asking yourself "What the heck does that mean?" Nor will you need to rely on a therapist who can charge up to thousands of dollars with questionable results. This book helps you to quickly understand your depression. And understanding your depression is said to be half of the battle.

Here are some of the benefits you'll get out of this book:

The Depression Indicator Test will show if you are depressed and then find out what you can do about it. When you quickly identify which type of depression affects you, you'll save hundreds of hours sorting through all the mis-information out there by simply reading "Stop Your Depression Now!"

Find the best treatment for your personality. All treatments are not created equal. Treatments that do wonders for others may do absolutely nothing for you.

Get the lowdown on what to expect from antidepressant medications. You'll be informed and able to insist on the right prescription for you.

The truth about depression is made clear: that it can strike anybody at any time and it is definitely NOT a form of weakness. It helps when you can understand the symptoms and recognize what is happening to you.

Sharon uses some well-chosen real-life stories to illustrate how real people came to understand their illness and thus she demonstrates that your symptoms also happen to other people and you are not alone or unusual.

The conclusion is supportive - depression can be treated and there are ways you can strengthen that treatment and all the other areas of your life.

All in all a very valuable contribution to this condition that affects too many people.