I'm Blue, Soooo Blue (Depression, part 2)

So what causes depression? There are many factors that lead to depession. Often, more than one, and usually a combination of many factors combine to lead to depression.

Simply put, when one of the following factors occurs, it changes our brain chemistry in some way. Of course, the factors themselves can vary in intensity; so a job change can vary from moving to a new cube, getting a new boss, being transferred to new department, being transferred to a new city, getting a demotion, getting fired, getting arrested for imbezzlement, etc. So when you say job change, that can mean many different things.

Add to that, the way we react to that change. For some people, getting a new boss is a huge deal, others, its no biggie. It doesnt meant the former person is weaker or inferior than the latter, it just means that the person reacted differently.

So, a job change occurs and our brain chemistry changes somewhat depending upon the type of change and our reaction to it. If multiple things happen our chemistry can change to the point where we are getting low in them which is a common cause of depression.

Let's look at some of these factors:

Genetics and biology.
Like other medical conditions, for example heart disease, cholesterol, and cancer, depression tends to run in families. People can be born with a certain predisposition to depression or have lower levels of chemical neurotransmitters to begin with.

Childhood trauma and other psychological factors.
As we discussed, changes in our psychology (reactions to trauma, personal loss, rejection) can also alter the biochemistry of the brain and nervous system - sometimes permanently. How we adjust to traumas, or how we are taught to adjust, can have a huge impact on the likelihood of develping clinical depression.

Environmental factors.
Poor nutrition, hormonal imbalances, toxins in the environment, brain injuries, stress, substance abuse, and can lead to depressive states. Good nutrition, decreasing stress, healthy lifestyles are keys to minimizing depressive symptoms. Alcohol depresses the nervous system, thus drinking too much, too often can lead to depressive states. Thus, moderation in drinking alcohol is essential.

Prescription medications
Many people do not realize that many common prescription drugs have side effects that can induce depression. These include cardiac drugs and hypertensives, sedatives, steroids, stimulants, antibiotics, antifungal drugs and analgesics.

Sociological factors.
Many changes in modern society, such as the breakdown of traditional communities (people don't stay in one spot for very long any more), the dissolution of extended families (with mobility in the world, often families are spread throughout the country or world), the widening gap between rich and poor, and our increased isolation due to technology (we text/email people instead of calling or visiting), may play a part in the rising rates of depression worldwide.

Spiritual crises.
People can suffer from an existential depression when life loses its meaning and purpose. Any significant transition, especially a change of roles in family or work, can trigger this crisis in meaning. Connection to a "Higher Power"has been shown to increase mood and levels of neurochemicals.

Next, we'll look at symptoms of clinical depression...

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TELL YOUR MIND WHAT TO DO

A friend once told us this amusing fact: his huge Rottweiler is afraid of cats. His story goes that when the dog was a young pup, it tried the usual dog-hates-cats snarling and snapping technique on an older cat. Unfazed, the cat coolly let the pup have his merry way. The cat probably got irritated after a while and without warning, a feline claw lashed the dog's sensitive nose. The poor dog probably felt that it was the worst pain he'll ever feel that he associated cats with it. From then on, he gave cats a wide berth. Even when he grew the size of a small horse and could probably swallow a whole cat without effort, they still lorded over him. This huge beast, which can reduce grown men to quaking, is afraid of little cute cats.

We can laugh about the absurdity of this pair but come to think of it, don't we all have our "little cute cats"? Don't we all have those little fears that shaped us into what we are now? Wasn't there a particularly painful experience that taught us to react to things in a particular way?

As little kids, we were constantly barraged with lessons on what to do and what not to do. It could be as instructional as 'don't play with matches'; 'don't talk to strangers'; 'eat vegetables' and so on. These got ingrained in your system that doing it became automatic. That's great but what if you were constantly told 'you're not good enough'; 'your grades are lower than so-and-so'; 'you're not pretty'; 'you're fat' etc.? Unfortunately, yes, this negative outlook got into your psyche too.

Like a dormant computer virus, it got embedded into your programming. Let's say you were always told that you're ugly. You grew up thinking that and each time you try to improve your looks, this 'virus' creeps up and tells you 'don't bother, you're ugly'. As it has been in your subconscious for so long, you believe it and will just go on as you are. Substitute the word 'ugly' with 'fat' or 'stupid' or any of those degrading terms and you get the drift.

Would you like to go on like that all the time? Well, pretty much like a computer, you can also give your subconscious an anti-virus to counteract the negatives. The simplest way is to constantly affirm a positive mantra to drown out the negatives. You are, in fact, reprogramming yourself when you do this. Say 'I am smart and I can_____ (replace with whatever you want to do)' or whatever variation you can think of. It might take a lot of willpower, practice and time to get accustomed to this new program though. Say it repeatedly, whenever you have a free moment, until it becomes real to you. Remember that all the negatives came about because you heard it all your life. Hearing positives will work the same way.

Unlike my friend's Rottweiler, we can be smart enough to realize that we are bigger than our 'cute cats' and they better stay off our paths when we tell them to go away.

~thanks Moni Arora

Another Thought on Conquering Our Fears

Everyone has fears—it is a natural part of being human. Fear can protect us from harm by sending a rush of adrenaline to help us physically deal with potential danger. If we did not have fear, we would boldly walk off the edge of cliffs or play in rush-hour traffice. But there are times when fear may keep us from participating fully in life. It can paralize us by what we percieve to be "danger" in social situations, people, objects, or life in general. These are the phobias we explored earlier. A children's book my kids enjoy talks about "Fear can be your friend, or fear can be your foe....that's something everyone needs to know". So true.

Once we realize that fear is a state of mind, we can choose to face our fears, change our minds, and live the life we want to live.

Our minds are powerful tools. Like computers, storing and using data, our minds make certain connections between thought and response. We have the ability to observe these and choose differently. No matter where the fear came from, we can create new connections by choosing new thoughts. We can create a new experience of reality. This journey requires many small steps, as well as patience and courage through the process.

Here’s an example: You decide to overcome your fear of driving on the freeway. Your plan of action starts with examining your thoughts and finding a new way of seeing the situation. When you’re ready, you enlist a calm companion to support you as you take the first step of merging into the slow lane and using the first exit. Your heart may be racing, but your confidence will be boosted by the accomplishment. Repeat this until you are comfortable, with or without help, and then drive one exit further! When you are ready, you can try driving in the middle lane, for longer periods each time, until you find yourself going where you want to go. This gradual process is similar for conquering any fear, but if you find it overwhelming, you can always seek the help of a professional.

You may think that you are the only one with a particular fear, that nobody else could possibly be scared of ordinary things such as water, heights, public speaking, or flying. These types of fears are very common, and you can have great success overcoming them. Remember, it is not the absence of the fear but the courage to take action anyway that determines success. When we learn to face our fears, we learn to observe our thoughts and feelings but not be ruled by them. Instead we choose how to shape the lives we want.
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Anxiety, Part 4

An anxiety disorder can greatly reduce your quality of life, but it is treatable and can be easily managed. Fully understanding this disorder is essential to your success. Research symptoms, medications, natural remedies etc.





Behavioral Therapies




Counseling, particularly a type of counseling called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), has been shown in research to be quite effective at reducing the symptoms of anxiety and helping people live normal lives. Many people get to the point where they have no symptoms at all! Traditional talk-therapy is also a helpful treatment for many. Try one and if it does not work, try another.




For individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a newer treatment called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has been shown to be very effective in the treatment of trauma related issues. It does not work for everyone, but for some, just one session of EMDR has brought significant relief from symptoms. Check the EMDR website to find a trained and qualified therapist near you



Anxiety Medications




There are quite a number of medications used to treat anxiety disorder. The most popular of these being a class of medicines called Benzodiazepines. These include {{{Xanax, Valium, and AtivalValium, Atival and Xanax. While these medicines do bring some sort of relief, they are accompanied by side effects, some very serious. Side effects can occur because of the medicines ability to greatly affect activity of the brain.



Side effects usually include:

• Headaches


• Diarrhea


• Insomnia


• Irritability


• Loss of appetite


• Change in sex drive/performance


• Mood changes


• Allergic reactions


• Muscle cramps


• Tiredness


• Depression


• Confusion


• Difficulty speaking

Medicine Usage



Make note that not all medications work the same for every individual. Each individual is different and has different levels of tolerance. We all carry around batches of chemicals in our bodies (hormones, neurotransmitters, water, minerals, vitamins, etc). Each of us has different levels of the chemicals, mine are different than yours. Medications are also chemicals. So putting the same amount of chemical in me versus you may cause your chemicals to react to the medications differently than mine.



Anti-anxiety drugs should only be used short term. Long term use can lead to physical or psychological addiction. Whenever you want to quit taking these drugs discuss with your physician and work out a plan to gradually reduce the quantity you take. This should greatly decrease any withdrawal reaction.



Natural Anxiety Remedies



Many people do not care for prescription drugs or the side effects and opt for more natural solutions.



These sometimes include hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, yoga, meditation, exercise and herbal remedies. Always check with your medical doctor before trying any herbal remedies as these may interact with any other medications you are taking.





Next we'll take a look at depression......

Anxiety, Part 3

Some Anxiety Symptoms


Individuals that suffer from anxiety disorder usually exhibit several different symptoms. Some of them are listed below.

• Extreme Fear



• Shortness of breath



• Insomnia



• Irritability



• Feeling of lump in throat



• Muscle spasm/twitching



• Irregular heart beat



• Heart palpitations
  


• Fever/chills

Keep in mind, that there are more symptoms and different degrees of the symptoms. If you feel like you have some of these and are concerened, please see your medical physician or other health care provider or a licensed mental health professional in your area. Because some of these symptoms usually occur with other illnesses it is important to seek professional advice. A physician should be the one to diagnose if you have anxiety.

For an idea of where you are with your anxiety, you can take this online assessment (for educational purposes only). Share your results with your PCP or MH professional.


It is always best to rule out other medical conditions. Ruling these out sometimes bring some peace of mind and can go a long way in easing some of your anxiety related symptoms.




Finally, tomorrow we'll look at some treatment options


~

Anxiety, Part 2

Types of Anxiety Disorders

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder-Individuals that this affect are always anticipating something bad to happen. They have excessive worries about health, money and family etc.GAD occurs more often in women than in men.

2. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder-This disorder is characterized by obsessive behavior and compulsions. Individuals perform rituals (such as hand washing) in hopes that obsessive thoughts would go away.

3. Panic Disorder- Individuals who are affected by this disorder experience feelings of terror that come on suddenly and often. They are often left in fear of certain situations and and are always in fear about the next panic attack.

4. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder- This disorder usually develops after an individual experience some terrifying situation usually involving physical harm, death, or near death. The individual is left with bad memories about the ordeal that don't seem to go away.

5. Social Anxiety Disorder- With this disorder individuals experience extreme, severe or excessive self-awareness in public situations. This is the classic Stage Fright, but taken to an extreme degree and applied in almost all situations: grocery store, school, open areas. There is always a fear of being watched and scrutinized.

A lot of returning soldiers stationed in Iraqi and Afghanistan experience this as they were constantly on high alert over there. The open market was a dangerous area for them. They never knew who was an enemy coming up to shoot, stab, or blow them up. So now, back at home, the basketball gym, the mall, 4th of July parade can bring on this fear.

So now, you know a little of the types of disorders. Keep in mind that each of these disorders can range from having very mild levels to very extreme levels, and anywhere in-between.

Next week, we'll start looking at some symptoms.

High Anxiety

We've looked at weight and nutrition and diet for the past couple months. Let's look a little at well-being.

We'll start with anxiety. Put in a very simple term, anxiety is all about fear. When you have anxiety, at the root is a fear of something. A good example is the "butterflies in the stomach" most of us have gotten before we had to give a talk, or say our line in the school play, etc. What's another term for those "butterflies"? Stage FRIGHT. Meaning we are afraid, or have fear, of getting in front of others.

Let's look at anxiety in more depth over the next few days.

Understanding Anxiety

Anxiety is a protection mechanism that the body uses to alert us to trouble. It puts our body in what's called a "fight or flight mode" and alerts us so we can react. It is also a normal reaction to stress. If you've ever come across a rabbit in the yard you may see them tense up and watch you, to see what you will do. They are in a "fight or flight" mode. They are waiting to see if they need to defend themselves or they need to run like hell. We are the same. When we percieve trouble (in any form) our body does the same thing. We have fear and our body waits to see what we should do about it.

We cannot get rid of anxiety because this is how the human body is made to operate. Anxiety is designed to protect us and help us face challenges. When our body is constantly or too often in this fight or flight mode and as a result we start to experience psychological, physical or emotional stress this is called anxiety disorder.

Too much stress can also lead to weight problems since when we are stressed our body naturally stores fat, or minimally, stops burning fat, just in case we need to "run like hell", we have the energy from the fat to burn. Fortunately most "stress" does not result in our need to run like hell, but our body does not necessarily know that. If we experience constant stress, then our body continues to burn less fat, store more.

This we can control and minimize to the point where it does not disrupt our daily lifestyle. However the first step in controlling anxiety is to understand how it affects us.

Tomorrow, we will look at the different types of anxiety problems.

Even MORE Great Resources!

Cholesterol

General Info on Cholesterol
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4488

Checklists for Lowering Your Cholesterol
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=514

Cholesterol: The best foods to lower your cholesterol and protect your heart
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol/CL00002

Lowering Your Cholesterol With TLC
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/chol_tlc.pdf

How You Can Lower Your Cholesterol Levels
http://nhlbisupport.com/chd1/lifestyles.htm

Free Diet and Weight Loss Journal

http://www.fitday.com/
www.everydiet.org/diets.htm
http://www.calorie-count.com/
http://www.calorieking.com/
http://www.sparkpeople.com/

Calculating BMI (Body Mass Index)

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/adult_BMI/about_adult_BMI.htm#Interpreted


Emotional Eating

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org/index.htm

“Get a Handle on Emotional Eating” article
http://sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=55

Binge Eating Disorder information
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/binge.htm

Good article on binge eating disorder and emotional eating
http://www.cfah.org/hbns/newsrelease/eatingdisorder3-14-02.cfm

Fitness Center Locator

http://www.gymticket.com/

General information (articles, self-evaluation tools)

http://www.magellanhealth.com/

Fun sites

Freestuff

Freebies 4 U 2

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WELCOME

Thanks for visiting my blog! I hope you will find the information contained herein useful and helpful in your daily life. I willl add information every weekday (I take weekends off to relax and rest and enjoy my family) on various topics. Sometimes I will add a running series, one each day on the same topic.

I welcome any and all comments, requests, flames (do we use that term anymore?). If you have question or concern, please let me know. I'll do my best to address it.

My ultimate goal in doing this blog is to help you help yourself to achieve the highest level of quality in your life. My tips may not work for you specifically, but generally they have helped countless others in some way. I ask you to consider the information and decided if it would benefit you.

A caution: before you start any weight loss, diet, or health-related change, I STRONGLY recommend you talk with your physician or other healthcare professional. You never know how a change will affect your health. Most often, change is good, but it's always best to ask someone who knows, like your doctor. See my disclaimer on this page.

Best of health and well-being to you!