Can Activities Ward Off Depression?

There are many different causes of depression, including poor physical health, the environment in which a person lives, lack of a social life, low confidence, and the list continues. Everyone is unique, as are the different types of depression. In fact, there are some people who suffer depression because of genes they have inherited from one or both of their parents, some who suffer it because of a chemical imbalance and others who have depression because they focus too much on the negative. There are treatments for most kinds of depression and studies are still being done to find more, but for some the best treatment would be prevention.

It is quite possible that many people who live with depression could deal with it simply by being more active, and people who are prone to depression could help to ward off depression by being more active as well. Part of it could be due to the fact that when people are bothered by something, they tend to dwell on it and put more focus on it instead of putting focus on other activities. People, who manage to re-direct their attention onto other things, are able to take their mind off of issues that are bothering them and allow them some time to put their mind onto something else, like a sport they are playing or a project they are working on. People who already suffer depression can find this difficult to do, because they feel they have lost interest in things that used to interest them and many feel too withdrawn to bother going out and doing something with friends; however, making the effort to go out and do something can help in pulling someone out of some of their depression. Once they start having some fun, what was bothering them before leaves their current focus and allows them to chance to relax and improve their mood. This is not to say that problems should be avoided, but it is something that can help someone to ward off depression, keep their mind clear and give them a break from the issues, which bring down their mood, that they are working on. People who feel they are depressed should take steps to get themselves out of the depression they may be in, and this includes seeing a counselor who can help.

Thanks to the internet, online counseling is available to help those who are depressed, or who feel they might be falling into depression, who wish to get out of their depression. An online therapist is easily found on the internet by doing a quick search on a search engine. Once a person has contacted an online counselor and told them about their depression, the online therapist will work with the patient to find out what might be causing their depression. Once some possible causes have been found, the online counselor will work with the patient through online therapy to deal with those causes, and while dealing with these issues, the counselor will most likely help the patient find ways to relax and improve their mood by becoming more mentally and physically active.

Jennifer Baxt is the owner of CompleteCounselingSolutions.com which offers a variety of online counseling services. If you would like to know more about Jennifer or any of our online therapists, visit our website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Jennifer_Baxt,_DMFT

Depression And How To Get Yourself Out Of It

Some people call it the 'pits' and some people call it the 'blues' and some just call it 'feeling down in the dumps'. But whatever you may call it, being depressed is a horrible feeling.



The most common types of depression are:

Major Depression, which is characterized by sadness, Insomnia and sleep disorders, and a decreased or absent appetite. Often when an individual is in a state of major depression, the person feels a complete lack of drive and motivation and the sufferer does not want to do anything in life. Some people are completely disabled by depression, and some individuals even contemplate suicide.

Dysthymia: This is a less severe type of long-term depression that generally does not completely disable the individual. But it keeps the person from feeling motivated and functioning at optimum levels. Sometimes people who are struggling with Dysthymia are also afflicted with Major Depression, and when this occurs it is called double depression.

Manic Depression is also known as Bipolar Disorder. This type of depression is less common than the first two. It involves cycles of a manic state, alternated with a depressed state. This is often a long-term recurring disorder. Sometimes the mood swings occur suddenly. But more often the onset tends to be gradual. There are many variations of depression; the aforementioned are only the three most common.

Some symptoms of depression include:

Sadness; pessimism; anxiety; insomnia and sleep disorders; guilt; feelings of worthlessness; restlessness; weight loss; fatigue; pain; headaches; and thoughts of suicide.

Sources of Depression:

As previously stated, there are several types of depression: Major Depression; Manic Depression; and Dysthymia being three of the more common forms.

Some types of depression are hereditary. Living in a stressful environment can precipitate a depression. A traumatic experience such as a serious loss, financial trouble, or problems in a relationship can also lead to depression.

Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men are, but scientists do not know why.

If you suffer from depression, you will want to consult with your physician. Your healthcare provider may prescribe drugs for you. But keep in mind that every medication has side effects.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could control and eliminate your depression just by having certain thoughts? I know that this sounds too good to be true, but quite frequently, various types of depression are simply caused by thinking negative thoughts.

Don't believe me? Then try it out! It's really quite simple and basic. Just use your imagination to think about something that you feel is very troubling or sad. Go ahead, think about it right now! Then come back to this article.

What happened? If you truly focused and visualized the sad situation, you started to feel sad and a little depressed. And the more you allow yourself to remain in that pattern of thought, the sadder you will feel. As you keep having negative thoughts and keep feeling sadder, you lead yourself into a gradually intensifying depression.

The good news is that if you focus on a happy thought, then you will supplant that sadness and depression and have happy feelings instead. Listen closely now, because here are the solutions to ending your depression: Our persistent thoughts emerge from the unconscious. These are the thoughts that we find ourselves naturally thinking about during the day.

If the persistent thoughts that are continually recurring in your mind are about your sad experiences or problems, then you increase your levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.

But here is the 'Light at the end of the tunnel': Since hypnosis is a tool that we can use to alter our unconscious thoughts, NLP and self hypnosis stress management programs can quickly change the way that you feel, think, and behave. The beauty here is that the exact same techniques that are effective for stress management also work equally well for eliminating depression!

Listen to me now, because I will tell you exactly how and why it is going to happen. Hypnosis is a natural state of mind. Specifically, it is the Alpha state of consciousness. We pass through the Alpha state as we fall asleep at night. And we pass through it once more as we wake up from sleeping. We also enter the Alpha state when we are daydreaming and imagining.

The unconscious is the seat of our emotions, and it is like a computer; the input controls the output! Hypnosis therapy is a wonderful tool for reaching directly into the unconscious and reprogramming it to automatically divert you away from negative thoughts, and promote positive thinking. It's a tool that allows you to bypass the consciousness to create positive expectations, which will in turn create positive feelings. You can beat your depression through hypnotherapy.

About the Author

Alan B. Densky, CH has helped thousands of clients since 1978. He offers CDs for hypnosis therapy for depression. Visit his Neuro-VISION hypnotherapy website for the hypnosis article library, or watch his free videos on hypnosis. http://www.neuro-vision.us/

Causes and Cures of Imbalanced Brain Chemistry with Anxiety Disorders and Depression

Anxiety and Depression is caused by an imbalance of brain chemistry. Symptoms are normally dealt with by drugs, such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's) like Paroxetine (Paxil), Sertraline (Zoloft) and Fluoxetine (Prozac).



Little do doctors tell you that imbalances in brain chemistry are actually due to poor diet, an unsatisfactory sex life, lack of exercise and lack of support in relationships. Most if not all of these issues are ignored by the average doctor before they administer antidepressant drugs.

There is a lack of general mainstream holistic health information and knowledge. People are just unaware of what factors are causing all the problems in their lives. The medical establishment is like a veil of illusion masking real knowledge about how to live a healthy and happy life. Doctors are not trained in health, they are only trained in sickness. This means that you can not depend on doctors for your health, but only when you have become sick. The people of the future will be their own doctors, taking complete responsibility over their own health and holistic well being. The basic core causes of anxiety and depression are are completely ignored by the mainstream medical establishment. Mainly because doctors do not have the time to do deal with these type of issues, because they are so complex. Therefore doctors may not be doing anyone with anxiety and depression any favors when it comes to prescribing antidepressant drugs.

Love and support in relationships helps produce serotonin (brain chemical of satisfaction, comfort and relaxation). Exercise also balances brain chemistry through the production of endorphins, and this together with correct diet the healthy production of dopamine (brain chemical of clarity, attention, interest and motivation).

There is no evasive short cut to living a healthy and fully functional life. There is no immediate miracle cure to anxiety and depression. It is up to the responsible person to learn about healthy diet, which in itself has the power to remove anxiety and depression by it's roots. It is up to healthy person to exercise in a healthy way. It is up to the loving person to create a healthy loving fully functional life in all ways to facilitate his or her needs for love and support in relationships in order to create healthy brain chemistry.

There are two ways of dealing with anxiety and depression

1.) The most popular but unhealthy way is to suppress the symptoms, by taking antidepressants, eating junk food, drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes or drugs. This may work temporarily for some people, but for those who are sensitive or for those who's soul is longing for love and freedom it only leads to more pain and suffering. This method may also include refusing to take responsibility for your problems by depending on others such as the medical establishment. With this method you may find yourself anxious and depressed for many years to come, until you decide to take responsibility for your life.

2.) The second method normally occurs after a lot of suffering in life and with many years of experiencing anxiety and depression. After a lot of soul searching you may stumble across yoga, healthy living, correct diet, healthy relationships and spirituality. You may research natural holistic cures for anxiety and depression and be well on your way to recovery and creating a glorious future. The power to create a healthy and happy life is in your hands. It is lost when you refuse to take responsibility by depending on others such as the medical establishment.

About the Author

James O'Neill is a spiritual healer and psychologist who runs a website called AnxietyMadeWell.Com.

Sleeping Problems and Mental Health

People who are suffering from depression or anxiety often have trouble sleeping. Indeed, one of the first signs of depression is insomnia, although lack of sleep by itself is not thought to cause depression.



Regardless of the cause, sleeping problems of any kind are not pleasant and can significantly lower quality of life whether or not depression is present. Some of the more common types of sleep problems include insomnia, sleep apnoea and snoring.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a condition whereby a person has difficulty in getting to sleep, or has no problem in getting to sleep but awakens often during the night, or who wakes up too early in the morning. Another type of insomnia is sleep state misperception where a person has managed to sleep during the night but believes that they didn't.

It's important to note that not everyone requires the same amount of sleep but a standard 8 hours a night give or take an hour or so, is probably the ideal for most people to feel alert and energetic throughout the day.

There are different types of insomnia too. Sleeplessness that occurs for only a few nights is known as transient insomnia, or if it goes on for a couple of weeks, short term insomnia, or when it persists for over a month with difficulties experienced most nights it is classed as chronic insomnia. Some factors which could influence an individual's ability to get a good night's sleep include:

- Too much caffeine during the day - Some types of medication - Anxiety, stress and worry - Depression - Physical pain - Noise - Changes in temperature - Jet lag - Underlying physical or mental illness - Too much alcohol before bed

Obviously, any treatment for insomnia will ultimately depend upon its underlying cause. For example, if the insomnia is caused by medication, the problems may cease if the medication is stopped or changed. Similarly, dealing with any underlying anxiety, stress or worry may resolve the problem. Sometimes it's not possible to identify the cause of insomnia and in some severe cases sleeping pills on a temporary basis may help, however, these should only be taken under medical supervision as there are potential side effects and contraindications to be considered.

Sleep Apnoea

Sleep apnoea can be a potentially serious sleeping disorder which is characterised by short periods during the night where breathing stops. Symptoms associated with sleep apnoea include loud snoring, morning headaches, night sweats, insomnia, jerking or twitching during the night, waking up gasping for breath and getting up to go to the toilet frequently during the night. These symptoms can vary from mild to severe.

Sleep apnoea is caused by some sort of obstruction in the airways, the throat or nasal passages which could be a blocked nose and too much tissue being present, the tongue slipping back into the throat, enlarged tonsils, or even the angle of the jaw. One of the most significant factors though is being overweight.

If you suspect that you or your partner suffers from sleep apnoea it's important to speak to a doctor for a proper diagnosis and advice. If the problem is mild then it might just be a case of losing weight, sleeping on your side, and not drinking alcohol in the evening, however, if it is severe then there are other options available including the wearing of a special mask. People who suffer from sleep apnoea have a shortage of oxygen reaching the brain and may also have an increased risk of strokes and heart disease as well as other health problems.

Snoring

Snoring is extremely common and is caused by vibration of the palate and the uvula whilst breathing during sleep. If the snoring is regular, rhythmic and not very loud and you wake up feeling alert and refreshed, then there is probably very little to worry about other than possibly disturbing others who are trying to get to sleep.

If on the other hand the snoring is loud, accompanied by snorts and gasps and periods of interrupted breathing, then you should speak to your doctor as it would indicate sleep apnoea.

Ways to improve sleep

- Talking therapies can be useful in highlighting ways to cope with any anxiety and/or depression, which in turn will improve sleep

- Learn some relaxation and breathing techniques, take up yoga or meditation, These may help you to relax and unwind and make falling asleep and staying asleep much easier

- Increasing the amount of physical exercise not only improves health in general it helps the blood flow to the brain, relieves stress and anxiety, makes you feel good, and facilitates a better night's sleep

- Avoid the temptation to lie in bed watching television and if you do awake during the night and can't get back to sleep, try getting up for a while

- Avoid drinking too much tea and coffee in the evening or drinking alcohol just before going to bed

- Remove any computers or television sets from the bedroom and make your bed a place that is only used for sleeping and for sex

About the Author

Depression and anxiety are serious mental health conditions that can strike anyone at anytime. For more information about depression and selp help come and visit http://www.fightingdepression.co.uk

The Dreaded Insomnia

Insomnia

Insomnia is a condition in which you have trouble falling or staying asleep.

While insomnia can be a sign of a physical disorder for most people it is an effect of bad habits, stress, tension and anxiety.

Insomnia also can limit the energy you have to spend with friends or family. Insomnia can be mild to severe depending on how often it occurs and for how long. Insomnia that lasts for less time is known as short-term or acute insomnia. Insomniacs have been known to complain about being unable to close their eyes or "rest their mind" for more than a few minutes at a time. This is where Hypnotherapy and Self-Hypnosis can really help the insomniac as it allows you to quiet your mind and relax your body. An anxious mind suddenly relaxed is a great feeling and allows for increased quality sleep.

Insomnia can be caused by problems like fear, stress, anxiety, emotional or mental tension, work problems, financial stress, unsatisfactory sex life, mental disorders such as clinical depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, general anxiety disorder. Also disturbances of the circadian rhythm brought about by jet lag or perhaps shift work can cause an inability to sleep at some times of the day and excessive sleepiness at other times of the day. Caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, and large meals eaten just before bedtime can also cause insomnia.

Long-term insomnia can cause you to feel depressed or irritable, have trouble paying attention, learning, remembering; and not do your best at school or at work.. Better sleep habits and lifestyle changes often help relieve insomnia.

Here are some suggestions to immediately help you with your insomnia.

Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine 3 hours before bed. Go to bed at roughly the same time every night, and get up at the same time. This creates a powerful habit pattern in your subconscious. If you can't fall asleep after 20 minutes get up and only go back to bed when you are tired. Use the bed for sleep and love-making only! Reading and watching telly can stimulate your mind and keep you awake. Practise self-hypnosis to help you relax and drift off into sleep. Listen to a relaxing Hypnosis tape as you gently fall asleep.

Follow these tips and soon you will be sleeping like a baby once again!

Mark Boardman

http://www.happyandwell.com

About the Author

Mark Boardman BSc dip.hyp is an experienced Hypnotherapist and highly qualified EFT and TAT practitioner.

http://www.happyandwell.com