Fitness. All about fitness » Depression

Getting Away From a Bad Companion: Battling Low Self-Esteem

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 14:11:00 +0000

It’s not an inherited trait, it’s a learned skill. Anyone can possess high self-esteem if they really want to. But for some, building positive thoughts about oneself is often difficult. Most people feel bad about themselves from time to time. Feelings of low self-esteem may be triggered by being treated poorly by someone else recently or in the past, or by a person’s own judgments of him or herself. This is normal. However, low self-esteem is a constant companion for too many people, especially those who experience depression, anxiety, phobias, psychosis, delusional thinking, or who have an illness or a disability. If you are one of these people, you may go through life feeling bad about yourself needlessly. Low self-esteem keeps you from enjoying life, doing the things you want to do, and working toward personal goals. Everyone has the right to feel good about themselves. But sometimes, it can be very difficult to feel good about oneself when one is under stress, and having situations that are hard to manage such as dealing with disability, having a difficult time financially, going through a bad relationship, or when others are treating you badly. At these times, it is easy to be drawn into a downward spiral of poor self-esteem. Feeling good about oneself is the most important part of living a life full of joy and vitality. Self-esteem is based on how you see your abilities and your worth as a person. People with low self-esteem are often shy, anxious, and often battle depression. They are negative about themselves and their abilities. Because they don’t feel worthy, they are more likely to do things that are not good for their health, such as going on starvation diets and smoking. People with high self-esteem tend to be secure and confident. They see themselves and their abilities positively. Because they know it is important to take care of themselves, they are more likely to eat well and to have a healthy lifestyle. However, gaining self-esteem is not as hard as anyone thinks, so why not start doing something about it right now. All steps, big and small, towards gaining self-esteem fall into two main categories: Avoid the negative and accentuate the positive. Here are some steps to improve self-esteem: Be positive about yourself and accept compliments that point out your strengths and abilities. Be realistic about what you can do. Trying to be perfect and comparing yourself with other people can damage your self-esteem. Recognize that everyone makes mistakes. When you make a mistake, do not put yourself down. Learn from your mistakes. Listen carefully to others, without judging. Respect people’s differences. Recognize their strengths and accomplishments. Acknowledge the things others do that help your family, your workplace and your community. Support and encourage other people’s efforts to learn new things. Give people in your family unconditional love. Spend time with people who make you feel good. Do things that make you feel worthwhile. But, most of all, exercise can be a practical choice to help one improve self-esteem. It’s hard to feel negative when all those endorphins are all pumped up. Plus, anytime you feel as though you are doing something positive for yourself —- you are actually building your self-esteem.

Online Pharmacy

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:55:00 +0000

Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. You should read carefully all product packaging. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Customer reviews are provided for informational purposes only. Customer reviews reflect the individual reviewer’s results and experiences only and are not verified or endorsed by drugstore.com, inc. Actual results may vary among users.

Why Do People Get Depressed?

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 04:38:00 +0000

Many people identify the feeling of being depressed as being blue, feeling sad for no reason, or having no motivation to do anything.It occures when human endure feeling sadness or melancholy for long periods of time, it can last for several weeks to several years if left untreated. Sometimes we feel tired from working hard, or discouraged when faced with serious problems. This too, is not depression. These feelings usually pass within a few days or weeks. But, if these feelings linger and begin to interfere with work, school or family responsibilities, it may be depression. There is no single cause for depression. Many factors play a role including genetics, environment, life events, and certain thinking patterns that affect a person’s reaction to events. Research has revealed that depression runs in families and suggests that some people inherit genes that make it more likely for them to get depressed. But not everyone who has the genetic makeup for depression actually gets depression. And many people who have no family history of depression have the condition. So, although genes are one factor, they aren’t the single cause of depression. Life events – for example, the death of a close family member or friend – can go beyond normal grief and can sometimes lead to depression. Family and social environment also play a role. For some teens, a negative, stressful, or unhappy family atmosphere can affect their life and lead to depression. Social conditions like poverty, homelessness, and community violence can make it more likely for people to become depressed. We have to say that People who are depressed shouldn’t wait and hope it will go away on its own, because depression can be effectively treated. Although depression is one of the most common emotional problems, the good news is that it’s also one of the most treatable conditions.

Oral Hygiene: Dry Mouth 101

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 13:13:00 +0000

Everyday, the human mouth produces three pints of saliva that are used for a number of reasons. It is the saliva that prevents tooth decay and cleans plaque and excess food from the teeth. Apart from neutralizing acids inside the mouth, saliva also amplifies one’s sense of taste and it makes swallowing food easier. One of the common mouth complications is the dry mouth or xerostomia. Some people think that having a dry mouth is just a very common problem. However, an extreme case of dry mouth can already be a symptom of a more serious bodily complication. This condition is caused by the lack of saliva in the mouth due to aging as well as side effects of medication intake. Drugs that are likely to cause dry mouth are anxiety and stress medications and muscle relaxants. Ignoring a dry mouth can greatly affect one’s dental health and enjoyment of food. A person will know that he has a dry mouth through the following symptoms: 1. Sensation of dryness in the mouth 2. Split or sore skin at the corners of the mouth 3. Bad breath 4. Stringy or thick saliva 5. Sore throat 6. Gum diseases, tooth decay, and plaque 7. Cracked lips 8. Disrupted sense of taste 9. Hard time swallowing and speaking Aside from being a side effect of medication intake, a dry mouth can also be due to nerve damage, wherein a person’s neck and head incur nerve damages from surgery or injury; tobacco chewing and smoking; as well as breathing and snoring with mouth open. Xerostomia is also an indication that a person has other health complications like diabetes, Alzheimer’s, or depression. Tests, diagnosis, and treatments If an individual is believed to have a dry mouth condition, it is highly recommended to immediately consult a doctor to confirm a diagnosis. The doctor will then review the patient’s medical records and conduct mouth examinations. Identifying the cause of dry mouth is done by means of imaging scans and blood tests. Moreover, treatment for dry mouth varies according to the specified cause of the doctor. If medication intake is the cause, then the doctor will most likely recommend another medication or adjust the dosage intake. In most cases, good oral hygiene is the best treatment for this type of condition. In some cases when the main cause of the condition cannot be determined or named by a doctor, there are a number of ways to alleviate dry mouth. A person diagnosed to have a dry mouth can try sucking and chewing on sugar-free candies or gums in order to improve saliva flow. It is also recommended not to eat or drink sugary goodies for these can result to tooth decay. Other ways to treat a dry mouth condition include: 1. Using a room humidifier to add moisture in the air during night time. 2. Regular water intake. 3. Breathing through the nose and not through the mouth. 4. Visit the dentist regularly 5. Brush teeth regularly with fluoride toothpaste

Why Depression Is Caused ?

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 06:58:00 +0000

In today’s life style of the human being, depression is a very familiar disorder. It is affecting every eighth man and every fourth woman. Many of us are unaware of the symptoms of depression which includes feeling of desperation, compulsive negative thoughts, increased or decreased appetite, insomnia or an increased need for sleep, being apart socially, frequent irritation, loss of memory and low concentration, interest towards suicide and death. It is good to think that depression is sadness and the causes of depression will vanish as a consequence negative feeling will subside. However, never take the causes of depression very easily. It may get worsen as it is not cured on time. It should be under periodic surveillance. It is assumed that the causes of depression are 40 – 70% hereditary and it also seen in some cases that person under depression have the child with depression disorder also. This means that the potential for depression lies in the person’s genetic organs. The depressed parent are often seen lacking energy to reproduces child and it is the matter of depression only as it has great influence on reproduction. It is totally against the nature of reproduction. Here we come to know that depression plays vital role and it is followed hereditarily. The causes of depression is hereditary or not, it is physiologically proven and it totally refuses that depression is nothing but a bad, angry or hopeless mood and it will get over as the time passes. Low serotonin level in human has proven one of the cause of depression and loss of neurotransmitters in the hippocampus has also been identified as one of the causes of depression. Seasonal problem may also cause depression. It is known that deprive of light and warmth in winter season and the person become depressed as a consequence not suffering from “cold bite” but actuality have the problem from shorter days and longer night. This type of seasonal disorder can further lead to a major depressed condition. Hormone also plays a major role in causing depression, especially among those women who suffers from Pre menstrual syndrome or post-partum depression. In fact, while one out of every four women suffers from depression compared to one in every eight men, this discrepancy disappears among women who have undergone menopause, when there are lower levels of estrogen. More and more researches are needed to rectify whether these hormonal disorder can really causes of depression or just merely triggers. Dismissed from job, got divorced, or a sudden death in family may not be the real cause of depression, but they can just tamper the problem in those who have predisposition for the problem. Most probably these events can cause feeling of worthlessness, but if theses are not persistent, they are the normal aspects of the grieving process and the not the real cause of depression. In some manner if these negative feeling are terminated they may help to set off depression. There are some physical disorder which are included among causes of depression. Heart condition and hepatitis may causes depression, as well as AIDS and other illness can cause weakness and tiredness.

Cyber-Bullying: Threat and Intimidation Online

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:51:00 +0000

Ahh…the Internet…the amazing portal to a vast world of information, entertainment, and everything else in between. Internet technology has revolutionized the way we work, play, learn, and communicate. What started out as an experiment in a Harvard University laboratory is now one of the primary means by which people in the 21st century do business, exchange information, and relate with other people. Aside from its use as a research tool, the World Wide Web provides other services such as email, instant messaging, file sharing, online forums, and blogging. As a technology, it has made an impact on the social structure and behavior. As an example, there now actual cases of people who met online and later got married. But even the Internet is not immune from misuse or abuse. Like other inventions of man, it too has been subjected to various forms of wrong application. One good example is cyber-bullying, a term that refers to bullying and harassment by use of electronic devices. Cyber-bullying and harassment is actually done through e-mail, instant messaging, blogs, mobile phones, text messaging, and other electronic media. In a survey done by Pew Internet and American Life, it was found out that at least 33% of teenagers had been the victim of some form of cyber-bullying. These acts involved sexual harassment, threats of harm, name-calling, and other harmful and unwanted acts. Online bullies use their computer and Internet skills to shock, intimidate, insult, and control unsuspecting online users. These acts of intimidation cause embarrassment, fear, stress, and anxiety. Some people who have become victims of online harassment also suffer from depression. The depression has caused many of these victims to either retreat in isolation or seek revenge through their own brand of harassment. Since surfing the Web can be done outside of school or out of the watchful eyes of teachers and parents, many young people need to be re-educated about “Web Safety.” School authorities, guardians, and parents must help young people and other individuals who use the Internet to learn the following Web Safety Measures: · Don’t use your real name every time you sign up for a web service; · Don’t give personal information such as your gender, age, address, school etc.; · Don’t send photos or post photos on the Internet; · As much as possible, avoid entering chat rooms. Most people who are in the chat rooms are not truthful with their profiles or identities. They are not who they say they are. · Keep a copy of the offending email. You may need the copy if you decide to take legal action about it. · Never easily agree to meet with anyone that you just met online. One of the worst things that can happen to a victim of online harassment or cyber-bullying is to be neglected. If a victim feels that he or she does not have anyone to go to for help, that person may fall in a deeper state of depression. Much worse, the victim could even develop a serious anxiety disorder, which, in turn, might lead to suicide. It will take the joint effort of school authorities, parents, and the community as a whole to stop cyber-bullying. Everybody must take part in preventing the cyber-bullies from using one of the world’s most important inventions into a cyber-tool for threat and intimidation.

Getting Out of the Black Hole

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:32:00 +0000

Postpartum depression, also referred to as postpartum non-psychotic depression is a serious condition afflicting mothers who have just had a baby. It interferes with a woman’s ability to care for the baby, and the condition attacks all mothers regardless of whether it’s their first, fifth or twentieth child. Some medical researchers believe that this condition may be caused by the fluctuation of hormones during pregnancy and after childbirth. While it is natural to feel stressed out, tired and anxious about childcare, such feelings should disappear quickly after childbirth. Postpartum depression may present itself with symptoms that include tearfulness, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts, trouble sleeping, fatigue, appetite problems, inability to enjoy pleasurable activities, feelings of inadequacy as a parent, and impaired concentration. Some women with postpartum depression may worry incessantly about the baby’s health and wellbeing, feeling that they cannot cope with the baby for fear of causing physical harm while having negative thoughts about him or her. Some confuse postpartum depression with a condition known as the “baby blues,” because they have similar symptoms, which contributes to the reason why so many frequently dismiss their feelings. But the baby blues is a passing state of heightened emotions peaking around three to five days after giving birth and may last from several days up to two weeks. If a woman experiences a prolonged period of experiencing these negative thoughts and emotions then it is possible that they have postpartum depression instead. Unfortunately, while women can recover naturally from the baby blues, postpartum depression needs medical attention. Some treatments for postpartum depression may be as simple as taking care of yourself and your body. Depression has been linked to sleep deprivation, and because you need to be up when the baby is, you also need to sleep when he or she does as well. Because most women are conditioned from childhood to expect that pregnancy and childbirth is a natural process, you often feel too ashamed to seek help for what may be seen as a made-up affliction. It is not shameful to ask for help or advice from family and friends who are also parents themselves or have experience with childcare especially if you are a new mother. Support is very important for women during this time, and talking often helps alleviate the sufferer’s feelings of fear and anxiety, reassuring them that they are not alone in experiencing such a distressing condition. Remember that you are not Superwoman, and that during this time of great upheaval in your life, juggling the responsibilities of work, family and running the household will be impossible without help. Medical treatment may differ from a case to case basis, depending on the severity of the condition. Many doctors may refer you to a psychologist for individual or group therapy or encourage you to join a support group. They may be helpful in making family and friends to understand that this is not a trifling or made-up condition. In more severe cases, doctors may prescribe antidepressant drugs such as Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride) to help you manage your condition. Whatever treatment is prescribed, it must be one that is the most beneficial to you. The most important thing is that you seek help before its too late.

To Sleep Or Not To Sleep

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:29:00 +0000

A teacher wrote this note in one of her students’ records; “Always late in class. Seems inattentive during discussions. To inquire regarding his situation.” One day after class, the teacher met with this student to ask regarding his condition. She was expecting that her student might relate some problems with his family or financially that interferes with his academic performance. She was surprised, however, to learn that the reason for her student’s constant tardiness and poor performance in school is lack of sleep and difficulty in sleeping. She thought that her student was just making up a lame excuse and reprimanded him severely. Later that week, when she casually related this to her friend who happens to be a doctor, he told her that her student may actually have a serious medical problem called insomnia. Insomnia is defined as a sleeping disorder where a person has difficulty sleeping or remaining asleep, thus, lacking a high-quality of sleep. The length of time that this condition persists may vary; from a single night to possibly a week or more. This condition may be caused by different factors such as physical illness or psychological problems. Moreover, its effects may largely impair a person’s life which is why this condition must be regarded seriously. However, like most health problems, insomnia is manageable or cured given proper treatment. The length of time that the sleep problem is experienced serves as basis for classification of the different types of insomnia. The first type which is called transient insomnia or short-term insomnia may last one night, a few nights or a few weeks. Another type of insomnia which persists for a longer period of time, a few months or even years, is termed as chronic insomnia or long-term insomnia. Another classification of the condition depends on the factors or causes related to it. If the problem exists without any underlying condition and is mainly caused by harmful sleeping habits, it is considered as primary insomnia. On the other hand, when sleeping disorders arise as a symptom of another preexisting condition it is then classified as secondary insomnia. The latter method of classification helps a lot in determining what form of management or treatment should be applied to cure the problem. As mentioned earlier, insomnia may be brought about by different factors or causes. It can be triggered by mental conditions, food or drugs, sleeping behaviors or habits, sleeping environment and medical or health condition. When a person is under stress, anxiety or fear, this may have an effect in his or her quality of sleep. Some medications, caffeine, nicotine and some herbal supplements may also affect sleep. Sleeping can be hindered or interfered by events such as a change in time zone or work shifts and by activities such as napping during the day, exercising before bedtime and eating or drinking too much before sleeping. A noisy environment, disruptive sleep partner, uncomfortable type of bed and unwanted room temperature can also make it difficult for a person to fall asleep. Lastly, trouble in sleeping may also be experienced when a person has any illness or pain, undergoes hormonal changes or has medical conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Having this condition can greatly disturb or trouble a person’s sleeping and waking hours. Usually, people with insomnia will undergo undesirable changes in their mood and daily activities. They may feel irritable and impatient most of the time and experience difficulty in concentrating and focusing on tasks. This condition may also lead them to often feel depressed and anxious. As a result, they exhibit poor performance in school and at work, and somehow become more accident-prone. Those who are diagnosed to have insomnia, however, should not panic or feel hopeless because of their condition. Fortunately, various treatments or solutions are already available to address this problem. Medications such as hypnotics and sedatives such as benzodiazepines, ramelteon and anti-depressants can be prescribed by sleep doctors to help decrease or eliminate difficulty in sleeping. Another therapy available is called cognitive-behavior therapy where a person is advised to modify his or her daily activities towards having better sleeping habits. Alternative and traditional Chinese medicine such as acupuncture and aromatherapy as well as other substances like herbal supplements can also be used to treat sleeping disorders. These treatments, however, should not be taken or undergone without proper prescription or advice from medical professionals. Inappropriate use or application of these may cause untoward reactions and side effects such as nausea, dizziness and diarrhea, cognitive and memory disturbance, substance abuse and even death. It is therefore necessary to always seek professional advice regarding matters of treatment. Insomnia is probably one of those unfamiliar or misunderstood health problems. This does not mean, however, that the condition is uncommon. Everyone probably has experienced or knows someone who had experienced one or more causes of insomnia. Everyone is also vulnerable to having it. Therefore, it is important to be knowledgeable of this condition to be able to address it properly. Had the teacher in the situation stated earlier known what insomnia is, what causes it, how it affects one’s life and what treatments or solutions are available, she may have appropriately done something to make her student’s life better.

Getting High… Can You Get Off It?

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:46:00 +0000

It is often said that each person is unique and totally distinct from the eight billion other people on the planet. Different people have different interests, biases, wants, needs, and desires. Where these interests and desires take a person in life totally depends on each decision that is made every day. For example, a typical teenager in college can choose between being a “do-gooder” whose life revolves around the home and the classroom; or going just a bit wild and experiment with all sorts of new things. Experiencing new things can be as simple as meeting girls, having intimate relationships, to drinking alcohol, or to something as risky as taking drugs. Teens who experiment with drugs often do so because of peer pressure and the need to belong. Poor choice in friends can lead an otherwise normal teenager to go over board and become addicted to illegal drugs. Sometimes, the pressure and bad influence from peer groups can overcome a teenager’s sense of right and wrong, or the values and principles taught to them from the home and the church. Some who do not get hooked on drugs say that they tried doing drugs just to satisfy the curiosity about how it feels to “get high.” The usual period for a person to experience and try new stuff would be during their teenage years, since their curiosity for the world is at its highest point around that age. Almost all of us have been exposed to drugs and alcohol at some point in our life. Alcohol is considered as a social drink for some, but this could lead to a more difficult alcohol addiction, or alcoholism. A more alarming fact would be to know that a certain number of teenage boys and girls get addicted to drugs, such as marijuana, “crystal meth”, or even LSD. This addiction could lead into a more dangerous position, causing them to go into drug rehabilitation. Of course, a recovering addict would naturally be anxious or frightened by the prospect of being confined in a drug rehabilitation facility. Anxiety is present and felt at all times since they do not know what to see and think after they get out of rehab. Turning them into rehab may also cause depression, not just for the patient, but for the parents as well. Of course, the addict does not want to be into rehab because of the fact that they cannot use their drug inside the premises and that they will be separated from their drug- addicted friends. This isolation or separation would naturally cause depression. It would be a hard time for both the parents and the patient since this would be a time for detoxification, counseling, and basic addiction treatment. Being inside a rehabilitation center would be like punishment for the addict. In this scenario, they are required to attend, listen, cooperate, and learn the benefits of having a healthy, drug-free life, instead of being addicted and enslaved by a chemical substance. In case they have to stay there for a set period of time, thoughts of depression and feelings of withdrawal from their drug may arise. These patients may be hard to talk to or communicate with due to their withdrawal symptoms. By having a relaxed and calm environment, this could help in releasing stress and anxiety from the patients, as well as giving them a fresh perspective on life. Whether the addict is registered in the rehabilitation center as an out-patient, short term in-patient, or long term in-patient programs, they would have to deal with drug counseling activities, open forums, and educational facilities that might help in decreasing their need for drugs. Depression should decrease as time flies because through the rehabilitation sessions, the patient would learn how to be set free from the addiction and get back on the road to recovery.

Cutting Away Pain: Teen Depression and Pain Displacement

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 07:27:00 +0000

There has been an increase of reported incidences of young adults abusing their bodies when they feel depressed. These kids say that if they don’t hurt themselves, they might “lose it”. Why do these kids do it? Why do they choose to go into this self-destructive path? Self-mutilation A lot of doctors are calling self-mutilation the next anorexia. This habit is getting quite addictive and is gaining a wide following from large groups of teenagers. It’s also called cutting. It is a means of expressing hidden anger, agitation, and pain during bouts of depression or when suffering from other mental health concerns. This is more common with people who find it hard to express their emotions verbally. They vent out hidden emotions and take their pain and anger out on themselves by cutting. Some people call it pain displacement, where people transfer emotional pain to physical pain, where it’ll last significantly shorter than it would if it were dwelling inside their heads, by means of cutting or slashing away on their skin. Kids usually do it in hidden areas of the body like the upper thighs or the upper arms. Kids who cut themselves deny being suicidal or even having such thoughts. When asked why they cut themselves, they say that they simply hate going to doctors to receive professional help. These kids just go on hurting themselves until something unimaginable happens. Not only does cutting put our youth’s lives in grave danger, it also warps their sense of reality. This happens when the wild conscience overrules the more humane side of the conscience. The wild conscience is violent and raw, making it uncontrollable. This part of the psyche makes people torture their own body. Mental health professionals have said that if you continue to let your wild psyche lead you, your self-mutilating habit may lead to suicide. People who hurt themselves need help. They’re not sick, neither are they insane. It is possible that growing up, they weren’t able to learn or acquire positive ways of dealing and coping with different feelings and emotions of a negative nature. Complications Certainly, any form of self-destructive behaviour will end up causing complications to a person’s physical and mental health. Cutting contributes to and/or worsens feelings or shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. Cutting may lead to life threatening injuries such as massive blood loss from accidental deep cuts, or when one accidently cuts major blood vessels or arteries. Cutting may lead to accidental or deliberate suicide. Like what was mentioned earlier, once a person lets the wild conscience take over, the intended thoughts of self-torture may turn into thoughts of suicide. Cutting causes permanent scars. You may not mind the scars while you’re in the moment of cutting, but years down the road, this may add to the shame and embarrassment as you are shown physical evidences of your former self-mutilating self. Intervention It is never too late to start learning positive coping mechanism. Engaging in a counselling session with a trusted and trained professional will help introduce and slowly inculcate less harmful ways of dealing with negative emotions and stress. During therapy, deep-rooted concerns that could’ve caused the self-destructive behaviour are addressed. Medications are unlikely to be the answer to stop a child’s cutting habits. However, the doctor might prescribe anti-depressants or other psychiatric medications to improve the depression. For severe cases, psychiatric hospitalization may be required. Chronic cutters need to be put in a safe environment and receive more intensive treatment until the crisis is over. Kids who have this problem need understanding and support from the people around them. Judging them for their current actions won’t help them improve or quit the habit. This will only make kids feel more hurt and depressed.