What Bipolar Disorder is Really

By Steve Jones

While most people with bipolar disorder and their loved ones are told that bipolar disorder is either a chemical imbalance of the brain and/or a mood disorder that can be characterized by extreme mood swings, it is really so much more than that.

In truth, bipolar disorder is actually quite historical. It has roots that go as far back as the second century AD, when a man named Aretaeus first discovered that manic and depressive symptoms may be linked.

The disorder is not just mental, since it has to do with your mind, but is physiological as well, because it has to do with your body.

Since part of it is associated with your brain, bipolar disorder can also be considered a neurological problem; however, it is usually termed merely "physical," and referred to simply as a "chemical imbalance of the brain."

Believing that bipolar disorder has biological roots, scientists are currently studying genes they think may cause the disorder. If they find the specific gene or genes that are linked to the disorder, they will be steps away from a cure. Of course, there is great debate in the scientific community about the validity of this research, and there is quite a long way to go before a cure can be found.

You may find that your doctor will tell you that your bipolar disorder has a medical element, as well. There is a greater risk of physical symptoms (body aches, headaches, backaches, stomach aches, etc.) when you are in a bipolar depressive episode than when you are not.

Also don't be surprised if your psychiatrist stresses that bipolar disorder is a psychiatric illness. He or she probably used the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) to come to that diagnosis to begin with.

As many studies have shown, bipolar disorder is hereditary and may be passed down through families.

As anyone with the disorder will tell you, bipolar disorder is definitely an emotional disorder. Your moods can swing from depression to mania and back again, without you having any control over them. In addition, emotional "side effects" of the disorder can include stress, anxiety, and insomnia.

There is also a personal element to bipolar disorder. Because of the stigma still evident in our society against mental illness of any kind, many people with the disorder will keep their disorder to themselves and won't tell others that they even have it. They feel like it is a personal thing.

Bipolar disorder is not just a chemical imbalance or simply a mood disorder. It is, in turn, both of these things and more. - 30309

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Getting Rid Of And Avoiding Panic Attacks

By Phil Clayston

Panic attacks cause a lot of distress to a person. Good news is, there are natural ways to deal with the unpleasant effects of panic attacks. A timely support can go handy in neutralizing its outcome. These techniques can enable you to regain normalcy in your everyday life, as you enjoy life free of worry and fear.

Anxiety attacks happen because of the excessive secretion of adrenaline in the body. With this, we are given the idea how to cure it. When a person is confronted with danger, the automatic response of the body to preserve life is to secrete adrenaline.

But this can become abnormal in a person when the body feels threatened by a lot of different matters, which usually would not affect a normal person. This malady of panic attacks has gained graphic proportions where up to four million citizens in America are under its sway, and yet people do not take it seriously.

Given the figure above, we can say that many people are in need of support to get their life back to normal. It is fortunate that there are also many solutions for this problem. Following the procedure will result in absolute healing, as there are many ways to deal with this problem.

These are tested techniques of treatment and you should be able to follow them consistently. The first step is acceptance of the fact, that the panic attacks come on because of a condition and this will prompt your mind to take the necessary steps to eradicate it.

There is a need to acknowledge that these panics are not normal, for to you get the necessary help in combating this disorder. In the process of controlling panic attacks, you will be able to identify the major causes of your anxieties.

The extent of your disorder is directly related to the cause, which brings on the attack. Is the degree of your worrying justified to the actual situation?

Usually people with panic disorders have a tendency to worry over petty things which actually should not be even a concern. Once you put in the effort to unravel the reason behind your attack, the solution will be in front of you and you can start living a normal life. - 30309

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Say Bye To Depression, Live A Stress Free Life

By Tina Davies

Want to beat the winter blues? Want to eliminate stress? See & experience life yourself with a new & beautiful dimension to it.

Clinical depression goes by many names -depression, "the blues," biological depression, major depression. But it all refers to the same thing: feeling sad and depressed for weeks or months at a time, accompanied by feelings of hopelessness, lack of energy, and taking little or no pleasure in things that gave you joy in the past.

Clinical depression is an awful disease. Depression turns its victims into shells of their former selves; depression patients are stripped of all the hope and joy and emotional vitality that make life worth living in the first place. The good news, though, is that depression treatment really does work, and that the right depression treatment center really can help you rediscover the world as you used to know it.

Yes, depression treatment centers are places of hope, and of healingbut they're also places of effort and of struggle, places where depression treatment patients get better only by virtue of the commitment they bring to the depression treatment process. There's no gentle way out of the depression wilderness. If you want to get better, you're going to have to work for it.

Depression matters, simply put, because depression victims matter. More to the point, depression treatment matters because depression treatment programs give depression treatment patients cause for hope, and for faith; depression treatment matters because it works, and because it saves lives. In the fight against depression, you'll never have a greater ally than a depression treatment center you can trust.

If you've made it this far, you don't have to be told how debilitating depression can be. What matters, now, is that you're ready to take the first step: that you're ready to enroll in a depression treatment program, and let depression treatment professionals help you get better. Please, for your own sake, make today the day you decide to start fixing tomorrow.

The right depression treatment center makes a world of difference in the depression treatment process. If you're going to get healed, you need depression treatment that meets your individual needs, and serves your individual interests; you need depression treatment that addresses you as you actually are, without resorting to generalities or supposedly "universal" treatment solutions. If you're going to win the fight against clinical depression, you might say, you're going to have to win it on your own terms, get started today. - 30309

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Learn the 17 Essential Places Every Home Must Have to Declutter Fast

By Zach Angelo

Does this situation every happen in your home? You get a gift, make a purchase or receive something in the mail, and you can't decide where to put it. I used to always just set stuff on the counter until I'd decide where to put it. Problem was though, I'd never get around to finding a spot for it and my counter top would soon be covered with clutter. This makes trying to quickly declutter your home very difficult, because you have no defined spot to put things when you clear off your counter. Knowing exactly where everything in your home goes is very important to be able to declutter fast whenever you need to.

If you can relate to that type of clutter, read on to learn 8 of the 17 essentials that you must have a set place for to declutter your house. There are 17 categories of objects that most everyone has in their home, but often do not have a set place for. It is very important to have a set location for all of these products to be able to declutter fast in your home. And soon you won't ever have to worry about clutter.

The key to the idea of having absolute set locations for each category of items is that you never have to wonder where something goes. You'll always know where the item belongs. You can't underestimate what a huge impact this has on your war to declutter your house. Although you may think I'm blowing smoke, saving your time and energy on this matter really will significantly lesson the stress you feel each day, which is directly affected by house clutter.

You can begin with the first 8 of the 17 critical categories your home must have a place for so you can always declutter fast when things are starting to pile up. Cooking products. All your pet's items, like its hair brush, food, and medical records (in a safe resealable bag). All your home's cotton cloth items, like bedsheets and bathroom towels. Office tools - like notebooks, stamps, envelopes, pens, paperclips and a stapler. Supplies to clean your home. Supplies to do your laundry. Home improvement tools, like a saw, duct tape, a hammer, screwdrivers and a ratchet set. Significant papers - tax records, cards, and bank statements.

If you can find a permanent spot for each of these eight groups of products, you'll be well on your way to keeping your house clutter free. You won't be spending a great deal of time trying to simply figure out where something belongs when you working on declutting fast. Daily life really does get easier when you leave out all the wasted minutes and hours we spend looking for items or trying to find a spot for things. You have just learned one of the most important techniques to being successful at decluttering your house. Now it is time to put it to the test! - 30309

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Do You Need Motivation?

By Tim Frazier

Have you ever had a long vacation and just dreaded going back to work? Even if it was a long holiday weekend it can be hard to get yourself motivated back into the cycle of getting things accomplished at work. And in truth it is not just work scenarios that suffer from people having a lack of self motivation. Dieting, exercising and even spending more family time require a degree of motivation. The motivation itself can vary. You want to motivate yourself to watch what you eat because you are tired of seeing the numbers on the weight scale go up. You want to spend more time with your family because you miss the closeness that you once shared. Self motivation takes a lot of discipline but it is not impossible to learn. In this article we will cover what you can do to get yourself motivated and back on track.

Is self motivation good for achieving long term goals?

There is not a long term goal ever created that is not helped along by self motivation. If you have always dreamed of a vacation on a beach and make it your long term goal of the year, you are motivated to save the money for the vacation. You are motivated to take care of work so you can have the time off. Long term goals would never get accomplished if it were not for people being motivated to do them. It is true that some long term goals are set off by a triggering event. But it is the perseverance to reach that long term goal that relies on motivation.

I have trouble completing tasks. How can I get the self motivation I need to get these tasks done in a timely manner?

Everyone has days when they do not feel like doing anything except flicking the remote control button on the television set. But if you are routinely failing to complete tasks this can be very problematic. The first step is seeing and admitting you have a problem following through with things. If you find that your laundry is never finished or your bills are never paid on time, you can learn how to accomplish these smaller tasks. And the more you learn how to accomplish smaller tasks will enable you to succeed at completing larger tasks. The first step is to identify the task at hand. Self motivation starts by you laying out what has to be done, what needs to be done and what you would like to see done. Then break these tasks down into smaller tasks. Tackle them one at a time. Before you know it you have completed the task. Make sure you give yourself a very small time frame to accomplish each of the small tasks. The longer you give yourself the more likely it will be that you put it off.

If self motivation all comes down to each individual person's strengths, or weaknesses, how can it be taught?

Self motivation does come down to your own strengths and weaknesses but by breaking down tasks into a comprehensive list of things that must be accomplished in a given time frame, you can teach yourself how to be motivated. You can set up a reward chart for yourself. Yes, yes....it does seem like something you would do for a child but it really works wonders on adults as well. Let's say that you want to write a novel. You have an idea but just do not seem to have the energy to write it down. As a way to start motivating yourself to write more you should carry a journal with you. Try writing in it for ten solid minutes a day. Then you should progress to twenty minutes each day nonstop. Gradually your novel will take shape. It is all about steps.

I am very self motivated but still find myself not being as successful as I would like to be. What am I doing wrong?

In the past if you wanted to learn self motivation techniques you would have to attend a class or hire a life coach. But today there are plenty of resources in your local bookstore, library or even the internet. You can take classes to help teach you motivational techniques. And if you would like to hear certain celebrity motivational speakers, you can sign up for their courses and classes. There is plenty of information out there. - 30309

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Bipolar Disorder: An Overview

By Sean Davids

Bipolar disorder is a type of brain disorder that can make the most ordinary and normal of moods appear very extreme. Sometimes referred to as manic depression or manic-depressive illness, this disorder is characterized by unusual extremes and highs and lows of mood, activity levels, energy and the ability to do regular everyday tasks such as get out of bed and go to work in the morning.

Researchers and the medical community are not completely sure as to what causes bipolar disorder to start in the first place. Most people who develop it come from a family where another member has it so the familial link has been established. But family history or a genetic predisposition towards the disorder are not the only factors that gives rise to it. This is a most definitely baffling disorder to diagnose.

Presently there are 5.7 million adults in the United States who are living with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder affects both males and females and it does not discriminate according to race, ethnic group, geographical location or socioeconomic class. The disorder most often develops when a person is in their late teens to early twenties. In fact, it is theorized that over half of those diagnosed with bipolar disorder develop it before they reach the age of 25. Children can also develop bipolar disorder although it is less common for it to appear at this time in a person's life. However there have been cases where bipolar disorder has been diagnosed in children who are as young as six years of age.

Bipolar disorder is frequently mistaken for depression. Depression can be sneaky in that it can sometimes obscure other elements that point to a bipolar diagnosis. If substance abuse is added to the picture then it can become even murkier and may remain undiagnosed for a lengthy period of time.

A diagnosis for an individual who exhibits the classic symptoms of bipolar disorder, which include cycles of elation and depressive mood swings, is relatively easy to make because it follows a pattern. However not all patients show symptoms that are as clear cut. For example, there are patients who do suffer from bipolar disorder but their symptoms are anything but classic. Mania mood swings can be mild episodes that do not really seem to point to a problem and sometimes can be attributed to circumstances or a person's unique personality. - 30309

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The Answer To What You Can DO For Improving Concentration

By Austin Baker

No matter if you are a student in school, a sport player, or just someone on the job who needs to focus more, we all sometimes have problems with concentration. You might be wondering what are the best and simple things people can do for improving concentration. We have looked at quite a few things and have found a few things that you can do yourself.

First of all, there are a few things that you can consume. That is right, you can eat bananas which have been known to help a person with concentration. You can also then drink a glass of wine. You might be thinking what can wine do for me? Well, this has been known to increase concentration.

Yet another thing is you can play games that require your total attention. Sometimes video games help as you have to constantly look at the screen. Some of the old fashioned games that you used to play as a child help as well. You remember the game of Memory? Well that helps you concentrate as you are trying to remember where each one is.

Those days that you spent in meetings or in class doodling are actually good. You might think yeah right, but we are right. Studies have shown those who doodle while listening to someone talk increases their concentration. It keeps you from spacing off and tunes your auditory senses onto what is being said when working on improving concentration.

Last, the thing that you have to remember is that there are many ways to capture your attention. One last method we have is playing video games. Kids will love this but it makes them focus on two things at once. You have to pay attention to the screen as well as what is being said so that you do not miss anything.

There you have it. Some simple things that you can try. They have all been said to help the concentration when your mind seems to wander. So, find what works for you. You will find a method that works for you when improving concentration. - 30309

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Family and Tension

By Carol Cavanaugh

One of the most stressful life events you may experience, is divorce. If divorced, all questions can highlight your anxiety of your life and create a hostile relationship with ex-partner. Divorce creates more stress than going to jail or getting fired from your job is shown by studies. You are also far more likely to be depressed, get into accidents, experience anxiety, and be more vulnerable to mental illness. In addition to the monetary cost, divorcing people usually experience loneliness and terrible mental pain. What are some ways to make the stress of divorce more manageable? There are a few coping techniques that have provided people with help taking care of themselves during this painful time period.

Joining a support group can be a big help in reducing stress. Being with people who are in the same life stage can help stunt the loneliness of divorce. Besides that, support groups can provide you with a probability to interact with people and make friendship with those who are singles or not a friend of your ex-partner. You would get a circle of friends giving you practical legal advice regarding lawyers, child support besides other useful knowledge related to the field. A supporting group could keep you from socially withdrawing, enabling you a safe space to laugh, weep, and talk about your feelings.

You need to put aside time to spend on yourself. This advice is hard to follow, but giving you time to heal, time to find a new balance is essential to reduce the stress of divorce. Instead of dwelling on your divorce, you can plan for a better future using these little breaks. Keep in mind that you don't need to aim for perfection. It is not the right time to be concerned with appearances or with what others think of you or your home. Don't be too hard on yourself - if you need to, ask for assistance.

Now is the time to take back your environment. Do you still have photos of yourself and your ex-partner? Throw it out. Is something too painful to look at or use? You can choose to donate it. Just looking at these painful reminders will increase your stress. Keep your items like wedding china or wedding rings in a safe container and put the same under lock, if you don't want to sell or give away those items. Don't decide on what to do with sentimental keepsakes until at least 12 months after the divorce. Change your surroundings even little things like purchasing new curtains or relocating your furniture will decrease stress and make your mood better.

You need to ensure that you get enough sleep. Right now, sleep may be difficult, but you function much better when well rested. If you are having difficulty sleeping, keep your bedroom dark, buy a new pillow, or take a hot bath before bed to relax. Eating a well balanced diet is also important. Always have good foods at hand and take in sufficient water. Maintaining your good health habit will not only reduce stress, but it will help you fight the temptation to develop bad ones. Taking good care of yourself by having adequate sleep and practicing wise eating habits can take you out of the Divorce Trauma and make you feel less stressful.

It is important to find the time to exercise. Exercising can improve your mood, provide energy and help eliminate some of the stress hormones inside the body. A walk outdoors or any aerobic exercise can help you burn off calories and feel more refreshed. Yoga, and deep breathing, are great ways to lower stress - all it takes is 5 deep breaths and you'll feel the difference. Taking a new exercise class can shake up your routine and help you meet new people.

Don't be afraid to pamper yourself. With all the time we devote to the care of other people, we need to focus on our own needs. You need to indulge by going to nice restaurants, taking a long vacation or starting new hobbies. If you remember to take care of yourself first, you will have more energy to navigate the divorce proceedings and aftermath much more easily. - 30309

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Need To Enhance Memory Without Being Smart?

By Austin Baker

Our memories are some of the most important things we own. Many people can remember clearly events that happened 15 years ago, but find themselves searching to remember what they need to get from the shop. It doesn't take long however to amend this problem.

As you hear new information or you are exposed to a new experience your mind has to decode what has been sent to you. It is going to interpret it in a given way. If you are focused on this aspect of things then your brain is going to file that information away. It is as if you opened a file cabinet and dropped the information inside of it. When you are ready to retrieve that information your brain will pull it back up for you just like if you were to walk up to that file cabinet and take out the file you had previously placed inside of it.

You may find your mind wanders or you are always busy taking care of multiple things at once. You need to train yourself to pay close attention to what is happening around you and therefore allow your brain time to store it for whenever you need it. It helps to connect new information with something you already remember. There are a number of methods to use for learning, you just need to look until you find the one that is suited to you. There are those who react better to visual aids, seeing or picturing something makes it easier to remember.

If you really need to remember something, explore it in your mind several times as this is an easy technique to help improve your short term memory. The more you engage in repetition the more it will be engraved in your mind for you to recall later on.

Using visual aids or word association techniques can be used to improve your short term memory. There are options out there so make sure you look into them and begin improving your short term memory today! - 30309

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Treating Schizophrenia: What You Need to Know

By Robert Neale

Schizophrenia ranks among the top 10 causes of disability in the United States and costs society roughly $63 billion each year. Traditionally, schizophrenia is a difficult condition to treat because it requires a lifetime of taking anti-psychotic medications, which many people stop taking because they feel it makes them feel "unlike themselves" -- therefore, treating schizophrenia is impossible without compliance. The relapse rate is 80% within 2 years for patients who discontinue their medication, compared to 40% with continued treatment. Since there are more than 15 different products on the market, finding the right one sometimes requires trial and error.

Antipsychotic medicines are the main facet of treating schizophrenia. This special class of drugs can put a stop to hallucinations, get delusions under control and enhance rationality of the thoughts if taken consistently on a long-term basis. Use of traditional medications, like thorazine and haloperidol frequently resulted in adverse reactions, such as motor restlessness, rigidity of neck muscles and uninhibited movements of the tongue or facial muscles, which prompted a number of people to discontinue taking them.

Oftentimes, individuals believe they've been "healed" so they don't have to take the drugs any longer. Other people would like to get rid of the uncomfortable side effects, and so they stop taking their medicine. However, when a person with schizophrenia quits taking the medication, their problems come back with increased severity and the drugs become less beneficial.

In 1990, there was a major breakthrough in treating schizophrenia. The drug Clozapine was introduced to the US market and worked without all the motor side effects by regulating the flow of neurotransmitters, like seratonin and dopamine. Psychotic disorder patients who did not previously respond well to medication found that Clozapine worked on both the positive and the negative symptoms of their schizophrenia. In 1994, a similar drug called Risperidone became FDA-approved and is now the most frequently prescribed antipsychotic in the U.S. As of 1996, Olanzapine is a third drug available under this new generation of medications that has fewer side effects and better success rates.

In addition to taking anti-psychotic medications, many people who suffer from schizophrenia find it helpful to participate in complementary treatment. Often, anxiety builds up from the difficulty of maintaining interpersonal relationships and the lack of social skills, so therapy is needed. Treating schizophrenia also involves counseling family members on how to be a strong support team for the individual with the illness. Learning how to cope with the disorder doesn't necessarily come naturally, but these skills and techniques can be learned. - 30309

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To People Who Want To Master Accelerated Learning

By Austin Baker

To fully understand the major reasons why we could lose our brain power, we have to first understand the meaning of it. It is the ability or capacity to perform or act effectively and strength or force exerted or capable of being exerted. If you begin experiencing brain power loss, it is going to make any accelerated learning attempts difficult.

Research indicates that certain disorders, such as depression, excessive anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, emotional injury, dementia, and other emotional and personality ailments, can adversely impact brain power. In addition, being under excessive amounts of stress on a regular basis can make your everyday tasks much more difficult. So, if a deteriorating memory is linked to psychological causes, it stands to reason that people should engage in activities that will lower the level of stress, such as sleeping more, meditating, performing yoga, taking time for themselves, undergoing hypnosis, and other anxiety-reducing activities. Stress has an impact on your capacity for accelerated learning.

Biological has something to do with the science of the normal functions and phenomena of living things. Factors such as aging, chemical imbalance, vitamin deficiency, smoking, alcoholism, major operation, drug abuse, post partum depression and menopause have great degree of impact to the function of our memory. If the cause of our poor memory is physiological in nature, then our goal is to take in vitamins and minerals for memory improvement, proper diet and if needed, prescription drugs. In all honesty it is not necessary to spend money on any kind of stimulant to increase any accelerated learning attempts.

Behavioral Factors: behavioral is related to environmental and methodological factors. If we are maintaining a lifestyle lacking in self and memory improvement activities and does not stretch our brain power to the limits then our memory will cease to function to its optimum capacity. Reading; sports activities; involving in the arts and science like painting, cooking, music, dancing, singing, writing; involvement in support groups or attending self-improvement activities would empower our minds and increase our performance as an individual, employee or student.

The human brain has the capacity to store millions and millions of pieces of information. After properly assessing the cause of our poor memory, we must take swift and proper action to be fully charged again and reap the benefits of our brain power. Accelerated learning is completely possible when you manage to turn your brain onto full capacity. - 30309

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A General Overview In Regard To Panic Attacks Information

By Ollie James Fisher

Panic attacks are an irrational fear that comes in the form of an increased heart rate, an increased breathing pattern and chills or becoming sweaty. There are several other symptoms and although most are seen during a panic attack, individuals may vary as to the severity of each symptom and the symptoms themselves.

Irrational fears are usually the cause of a panic attack. Although the triggers of individuals may be very different for each person, there are commonalities in their fear of the panic attack itself. Sufferers report that they feel like they are dying, having a heart attack or will have a heart attack due to the symptoms they feel within their bodies. The first time that a person suffers a panic attack they typically do not understand what is happening. Finding out about what a panic attack is can often be the biggest help for a sufferer. Most people who have suffered a panic attack will start to stress about the next one almost as much as the original fear causing them.

There are a variety of treatment options of panic attacks but a lot of sufferers don't seek help. Therapy, medications and relaxation techniques can help individuals to be rehabilitated. Behavioral therapy lessens attacks by challenging the fear of the panic attacks themselves. This is done by accustoming people the sensation of panic attacks, slowly. This technique has been named interceptive exposure. In a controlled environment, one example of this method, would be helping someone get used to the feeling of an elevated heart rate. The sufferer then learns that although they have this feeling it does not always bring on a panic attack and they can handle it. Behavioral therapy also includes real life exposure. This would involve being exposed to certain 'stress point' so they can become used to them.

There are many relaxation techniques that can help panic attacks sufferers. The individual needs to first relax their shoulders when they feel a panic attack coming on. Removing tension out of the neck is very important. You can get complete body relaxation by relaxing the muscles. Overcoming a panic attack is difficult but most methods involve some kind of breathing control.

Breathing can help get the heart rate under control during a panic attack. Breathing slowly and pretending to blow out candle sis one such method that can help control the heart rate. An important thing for the person to remind themselves is that they are not going crazy and they are not going to die. It is these fears that further escalate a panic attack.

Panic attacks are a form of a panic disorder caused by anxiety. But there are many kinds of panic disorders. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is also an anxiety related panic disorder normally centered around the loss of a loved one or another traumatic event. OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is another way in which anxiety can produce a panic disorder. OCD involves having unwanted thoughts and mannerisms that a person performs in order to control them. They might become obsessed with urges that provoke them to repeatedly perform ritualistic behaviors or routines to ease their anxiety. - 30309

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Nightmares Again!

By Simon Wong

Everyone has some kind of experience if nightmare. Nightmare is not the "privilege" for children only. Both you can I can "enjoy" this. Nightmare in general speaking is bad and unpleasant dream. Why it is unpleasant? The main reason is we all feel terrified and fear in nightmares. In addition, you usually can remember what you have seen or heard in the nightmare quite clearly, which make it even more terrible.

There are many causes for nightmares. One of the common ones is sickness. When you are sick especially suffering from fever, you feel physically uncomfortable. Or, due to the medicines like levedopa for Parkinson disease that people take when they are sick, they are more likely to have nightmare.

Stress from work, relationships, educations or even families can also be a common cause of nightmares. Nightmares caused by stress are very much believed to be a release of stress and anxiety that have got over your maximum points. Because of that, your body automatically releases such stress through nightmares. In this case, nightmare may be helpful in preventing some even more serious psychological problems.

Childhood memories can also cause nightmares. Of course the memories talking about are usually the unpleasant ones. Sometimes you may not know the nightmares are actually caused by unpleasant childhood with neglect or abuse as you were too young to remember in your childhood.

Nightmares can be disturbing to our sleep or in other words lower the quality level of sleep. This is especially true for the recurring nightmares. Sometimes people get woken up from the nightmares as it is too scary. And it takes them some times to calm down.

If you want to have high quality of sleep, one way to do is to keep yourself away from nightmares. You should set a fixed time as your bedtime. Avoid reading scary books or watching scary films at night, especially before you go to bed. Keep yourself relaxing by listening to soothing music. Keep some dim light and good ventilation in your bedroom also help.

Finally, do not be surprised that some people need to consult doctors when the nightmare problem becomes serious. It can be described as serious if you have nightmares more than once a week and you find yourself do not sleep well because of nightmares. Other than consulting the doctor, you may try one method yourself. You can write down the things you can remember in the nightmare and try to think about it. During your thinking, use your mind to change what have happened in the dreams. Keep on doing that for several days and you may find no more nightmares. - 30309

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An Unhealthy Mind And Body Can Lead To A Bad Relationship!

By Mike Rollins

Having an unhealthy body due to no exercise and poor eating habits can alter your life in many ways. Can it also affect your love life?

When you start a relationship with someone, you want it to last as long as possible. Establishing a healthy relationship can help you accomplish that. In order to have a strong relationship with somebody, you want to possess a healthy mind and body.

How do you make a relationship healthy and happy? A healthy mind is when you have a secure self-esteem and confidence about who you are and what you want out of life. A healthy mind gives you independence so that you trust in yourself to get things done and do not become co-dependent on your mate.

An unhealthy mind is when you have little or no self-esteem and no self-confidence. The lines of communicating become absent because you recede into your own world and just look to your mate for direction in your life, which puts a burden on your lover.

A healthy body, simply put, is when you take care of yourself. You make an effort to sustain a healthy weight and you care about your appearance and how you feel on a day-to-day basis. You do not smoke or drink or do anything that would induce damage to your body over time.

You exercise on a regular basis to keep your heart in tip-top condition and eat a sensible diet, splurging now and then as a reinforcement. Your attitude remains positive which makes your mate desire to spend time with you.

An unhealthy body is when you do not care enough about yourself to take care of your body. You smoke and drink more than you should and let yourself go. You eat junk food frequently and your waist is inflating.

Since you do not care about yourself, you do not try to work out or do things that would keep your heart strong. Your mental attitude is bad, causing your relationship collapse because your partner no longer wants to spend any time with you. You can't fault him or her because if you can't even love yourself, why should your partner?

Once your mind and body are in sync with each other, you can acquire a positive attitude, which keeps the line of communication going with your mate. It lets you to listen to them and helps you support them if they need it. You are more likely to do whatever it takes to keep your relationship in first-rate shape so that it continues to mature. - 30309

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Breathe Better to Overcome Panic Attacks

By Candace Martin

Panic attacks are scary, but in truth, physically harmless. To help you calm your terror, breathing techniques can be very helpful. Here are a few different ways of breathing that might help to calm your panic attacks.

Sigh Breathing: Instead of deep breaths, the sigh breath begins with a mild inhale, and a slow exhale. This is to encourage shallower and slower breathing. The sigh breath encourages tranquility through increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in your blood. In addition, by focusing your senses on the outside world, you divert your attention from your inner turmoil. Lastly, you become an active participant in your body, and you can fight the panic. As you breathe, calmly observe your surroundings. Think about what you can hear, what you can see, what you can smell. Open your senses.

Breathing with your diaphragm: Start by sitting comfortably in a chair, keeping your back straight. Some find closing their eyes more relaxing, so you may want to try that too. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen. Diaphragmatic breathing requires you to use your abdominal muscles. Inhale and exhale three or four times. You should not be exerting yourself. After your fourth exhale, do not immediately begin inhaling. Wait for a few moments. Without your prompting, your body should soon begin inhaling. Let your body breathe for itself. It will find its natural rhythm. Likely you will notice your abdomen regularly rising and falling. You're breathing with your diaphragm.

Meditation breathing: If you've ever taken a course in yoga or meditation, you know that by modifying your breathing, you can transform your mental state. To combat the onset of a panic attack, you can use meditative breathing to calm yourself. Sit with your back straight, and your feet flat on the ground. You want to have excellent posture, but be comfortable at the same time. Draw in a slow, deep breath. Hold your breath for a few moments, counting to five. Then exhale gradually. Before you inhale again, pause, again counting to five. Then inhale. You should be feeling a separation between your inhales and your exhales.

Buteyko Breathing: This technique aims to reduce breathing and thereby increase the levels of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. Carbon dioxide is a natural tranquillizer and will calm the panic attack. There is some controversy about this technique, because low levels of oxygen in the blood can be highly dangerous. There are Buteyko instructors who can guide you through it safely, and this is highly recommended. - 30309

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How To Stop worrying - A Perfect Way

By John Knight

Everybody worry about something every single day. Worrying is like an addiction. Some people worry about money, some about relationship, some about work, some about job, some about health etc. May be you worry every single hour.

People worry a lot. They do not think of living without worrying. But they should think that it is not giving them any results. Sometimes they try to stop worrying but cannot do it. This is because they do not know how to do it. They do not know the methods for it.

Worrying is just a waste of time. Worrying will not find a solution for you. It will only make you more worry. Negative thoughts will start taking up your mind and make you feel more worried. Long worrying will take the form of depression. You will start feeling anxious and miserable. In this article I will discuss with you some of the steps that will give you relief from worrying.

Everybody knows worrying is a deadly thing but if you set an aim that from now onwards you will not worry you will definitely get rid of it. When you realize this thing the next steps are nothing. When you worry you are not able to think of anything else. But instead of worrying if you start working on the problem and make step by step plans then you will definitely end up with good future. If you will not worry then you will make your plans easily and in less time.

There is a saying of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji, cut the past, shut the future, live in present. Stop worrying about the future and just do right things in present. If you will live in a planned way in present then your future will be also good and there is no need to worry. The most important thing is do exercise and yoga daily. This will give your mind a good relaxation. Meditation is also a very good thing. Understand the benefits of stop worrying.

Think about what worst things can happen to you if you do not solve the problem. It will give you a lot of relief as the results that you will see will not be so much worst. You will see the problem that you are thinking of is not a big problem and you will be able to find the solutions easily.

Now suppose you are worried about your future that is you do not save anything from your present salary. So you are worried and worried and do not find the solution. In this case what you should do is instead of worrying think how you can save. Make a diary every day about how much you spent. After some days see what you should skip to save money and what is very important. This will definitely make a big difference in your life.

Worrying is not the right thing and it can give you a lot of problems. It can crop up many more different diseases in your mind. So be aware and be optimistic. Stop worrying and start working. It will give you a profitable solution and make your life happy. - 30309

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Normal Stress Versus Anxiety Disorders - When Should You Call for Help?

By Stephen Daniels

Everyone has experienced symptoms of stress at one time or another. Speaking in public, taking a final exam, planning a wedding, and many other situations can bring on stress for just about everyone. The symptoms of stress can vary, but commonly include a pounding heart, perspiration, upset stomach, headache, shortness of breath, fatigue and insomnia. Under normal health conditions these symptoms subside once the situation ends.

A chemical imbalance in the brain or excessive environmental stress are what psychiatrists believe causes anxiety disorders. This can be characterized by continual apprehension and fretting that interferes with your life and relationships. When this occurs, it may be out of control and time to seek professional help.

If you cannot help yourself from experiencing excessive, constant worry about everyday issues like work, health, school and relationships, you may have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Another common characteristic is frequent dread over unlikely "what if" scenarios. Seeking treatment for this condition is important, especially if it has been ongoing for several months.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is debilitating in social situations. If you often feel strong feelings of apprehension or panic in social situations, or meeting even one new person typically sends you into paroxysms of dread, it's wise to discuss these symptoms with a physician.

Some people have frequent "panic attacks," where the above symptoms come on suddenly and forcefully. Panic attacks are a characteristic of most of these illnesses, but if you have them one or more times a day, you may be affected by panic disorder (PD).

Uncontrollable, and often irrational, angst about a specific topic or topics are called "obsessions." Those who have obsessive thoughts may engage in repetitive activities, "compulsions," to reduce their worry. These two symptoms comprise obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). For instance, a person may have constant thoughts that they are contaminated, and thus may bathe repeatedly but never feel clean. If you find yourself suffering from obsessive thoughts or repetitive behaviors that interfere with your ability to lead a normal life, a physician can offer help and hope.

People associate post traumatic stress (PTSD) with war veterans, but this malady can affect anyone who has been through a very traumatic event. If you are unable to keep yourself from replaying a troubling event from your past, or experience frequent nightmares or even flashbacks, you do not have to continue to live with this pain alone. There are many support groups and treatment options available.

Notably, these conditions may manifest themselves differently than how they are described here. A person may exhibit symptoms for more than one of these ailments. Clinical depression symptoms can be present along with other symptoms, as these types of conditions are related. Only qualified professionals should diagnose and treat these serious mental health issues.

After diagnosis, your counselor or psychiatrist can use a number of techniques to help you learn to cope with your condition. Positive self talk or breathing exercises are used by many mental health professionals. Psychiatric medication may be prescribed for treatment of the chemical imbalance in the brain. There are many different medications available, so you may have to try several before your physician can identify the one that works best.

Mental health conditions can overtake and be devastating for both the patient and their family. However, with the right treatment, many of those who suffer from these conditions are able to lead happy, productive lives. - 30309

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Anxiety Disorders Affecting Children Are Generally Uncommon Yet Generally Misinterpreted

By Pam Herstiel

Most of children experience at least type of nervousness. It can sometimes be caused by school tests and requirements. Children don't generally develop stress disorders or irrational fears because of this. But, there are children that may show symptoms of a panic disorder for other reasons.

As much as we would like to protect the innocence of kids and prevent anything from interfering with their lives, it is not always possible. Children can be afflicted with certain types of stress disorders that are also seen in adults. This type of disorder can show its self a lot of ways. A child might seem to fret a lot. They tend to be extremely hard on themselves and strive for perfection. They might redo tasks in an effort to get them to come out exactly right. Needing to be constantly reassured that they are doing a god job is also a possible symptom.

OCD, or Obsessive- compulsive Disorder, can also be found in children. OCD is intrusive or unwanted thoughts or obsessions that can't seem to be cleaned from a person's head. They also might display strong urges to repeatedly perform ritualistic behaviors and routines to try to ease their anxieties. Although the optimum age at which a young child might be diagnosed with OCD is ten, it can be seen in children as young as 2 or three. This nervousness disorder might be seen in children through excessive hand washing, the feeling of terror that they will accidentally do something incorrectly, rechecking or counting items excessively to ward off unwelcome thoughts, etc.

Panic disorders are something different. Two unexpected panic attacks and an extra month of worrying over having another attack can diagnose a panic disorder. However this condition is more common in young adolescence then children.

Irrational fear of certain places, objects or situations can be a sign of children suffering anxiety disorders. Although childhood fears like being fearful of animals, storms or the dark can go away on their own, if a fear is persistent within the child for at least six months and interferes with their every day activities, the child is said to have a phobia. Symptoms can include suffering from a stomach ache or headache, a tantrum, becoming clingy, or freezing in place when confronted with the fear.

Traumatic events like losing a parent or physical assault can cause these types of problems. These children might display symptoms of not eating or sleeping, emotional numbing, reliving the event through bad nightmares or through playing, or fear that the event might happen again.

How these types of disorders manifest themselves can vary in adults and children. Children will not be able to express their issues the same way and they will also not have the ability to understand them the identical way either. Children suffering from stress problems may be referred to their pediatrician. - 30309

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Holistic Therapy for Couples - Creating Balance In Your Life And Relationship

By Stephen Daniels

Many couples who are experiencing trouble in their relationships wisely opt to see a counselor for help. However, many may not realize that there are differences between holistic counseling and traditional counseling. These differences can really come into play when trying to work out issues in a relationship.

Traditional counseling typically focuses primarily on the issues the couple brings to the session to discuss, whether they are subjects of frequent arguments, one partner's hurt feelings, or intimacy issues. Working on these surface issues can be helpful, but this approach acts more as a band-aid to cover only visible wounds while ignoring the imbalance between the partners that could be causing the wounds.

Individual disagreements and communication problems within a couple may be symptoms of a much bigger issue - one that will never be addressed by traditional counseling. Often, when two people need of therapy, both the individuals and the couple as a unit are out of balance and need a more holistic approach to help them heal themselves and their relationship.

Holistic Counseling is completely centered on assisting partners in reclaiming that balance and wellness for themselves and for the relationship. A balanced partnership is one founded upon feelings of love, trust, intimacy, and joy. The right holistic therapy will focus on increasing these aspects of the bond.

The holistic approach is excellent for people who feel like their relationship is out of balance, particularly if they suspect that their arguments are a symptom of a bigger problem. Relationships that don't have enough joy, intimacy, or positive communication can benefit from this method. Through holistic therapy, partners can explore these issues and discover new ways of thinking about their bond with one another.

Holistic therapy may particularly appeal to people who find a traditional therapist's approach off-putting. Some participants in typical therapy sessions feel like they are being involved in a moderated debate; others even think their partner and the therapist are ganging up on them.

Another big plus of holistic counseling is that it is far less likely than traditional counseling to result in medication being given to one or both parties. Antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and sleeping pills are often prescribed by traditional counselors. Sometimes, these drugs serve only to increase relationship issues problems. They can cause sexual problems or even change an individual's personality to some degree. This can cause yet another rift in an already fragile partnership. While drugs are not inappropriate for every case, many modern practitioners use medication as a first line of defense rather than a final resort. There is no doubt that swallowing a pill is easier than changing a couple's worldview or the way that they work with one another.

Holistic therapy should not be viewed as a quick fix to relationship problems. However, it will reach down to the roots of the bond to improve the couple as a whole as well as both individuals. It is an approach designed for partners who desire true balance in their lives, both together and separately. - 30309

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How To Treat Anxiety Naturally And Effectively

By Alexandrie Earlsmith

The number of individuals suffering from anxiety has been on a steady incline over the last twenty years. Whatever has caused your worries you will want to learn how to treat anxiety naturally and efficiently without the need for prescription medications that may cause over problems.

There are many issues that can bring on this mental turmoil; it may be mild or very severe. There can be times when the degree of the worry becomes so intense that it is hard living a regular life.

1. Diet: The human body is a very sensitive machine. You may have heard the phrase "we are what we eat", and this is actually true. If you have a diet high in junk food and fats then you will have a lot more toxins and waste products floating around your biological systems. This can in turn lead to greater levels of anxiety. You should limit the amount of alcohol and caffeine that you consume as well as eradicating any tobacco products that you may be using.

2. Exercise: Every time we do any exercise our body will produce endorphins. This substance will in turn lead to a feeling of wellness and happiness for many hours even after the workout has finished.

3. Relaxation: You may often have problems trying to forget about the stressful events that have happened in your day. If it feels like you are constantly suffering from anxiety then you should try out a calming technique such as yoga or meditation. Through either of these practices you will learn methods to calm the mind and keep negative thoughts locked away.

4. Herbs: Today there is a wide array of herbal supplements that you can pick up from any health food store which are known to reduce the symptoms of anxiety. Whenever you feel the tension rise you should make yourself a cup of chamomile tea. The properties of chamomile can quickly reduce the levels of anxiety that are present in any individual. Make sure you check out any potential side effects before using herbs.

5. Hypnosis: Of late, hypnotherapy has become a popular method for curing anxiety once and for all. It is a completely safe method that will work on the subliminal mind to prevent negative emotions from coming to the fore. Most cities and towns in the country will now have alternative health centres in which treatments such as hypnotherapy are conducted by trained professionals. - 30309

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Stop Panic Attacks And General Anxiety Fast

By Adam Champagne

I have been a panic and anxiety sufferer for many years now. In my opinion, it is one of the worst mental conditions to have. You feel trapped in your own body, always worrying about the next time a panic attack will hit you.

When I first started getting panic attacks I didn't know what they were. I scoured the internet looking for any diagnosis I could find. The one thing that initially helped me the most was knowing that other people had the same condition I had. I wasn't alone! This discovery made me realize that I wasn't a freak and other people were dealing with the exact same problem that I was.

Discovering this fact was very comforting, but it alone was not enough. I needed a way to break the cycle. I started reading a lot of books about panic and anxiety disorders and they all seem to have some fundamental principles in common.

The first thing is that you need to assess your situation. Ask yourself "what am I afraid of?" I was constantly afraid of having another panic attack. Then ask yourself "why am I afraid of it?" I was afraid because I thought that I would have a heart attack as a result of the panic attack.

Next, you need to ask yourself "what is the worst that could happen?" I thought I could die, that is all I thought about which ended up bringing on more panic attacks and put me in a constant state of anxiety.

Now that you've identified what the worst thing that could happen is you must prepare for the worst. I started doing research about panic attacks and anxiety disorders and I quickly found that people do not die from panic attacks. It just doesn't happen. This fact alone decreased my anxiety greatly.

It doesn't matter what triggers your panic attacks, 99% of the time that thing you are afraid of will not happen. Even if it does it usually isn't that bad, your just making it out to be in your head. It's a vicious cycle and the good news is that you can break this cycle!

There are a great many resources online to help you with panic attacks. The best thing I did was join a program that guided me through the process of getting rid of my panic attacks for good. It took me by the hand and guided me the whole way. I am glad to say that I am now panic free! - 30309

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About Chronic Tension Headaches

By Rose Williams

There is a fairly good chance that someone you know has had some type of headache recently, just because there are so many different sorts of headaches around. These sorts of headache may be the result of dehydration, missed meals, migraines or other kinds of headache like a tension headache or even a chronic tension headache.

A tension headache can feel like a tight elastic band wrapped tightly around your head, however, the pain from a tension headache goes away after a short time. But imagine having to suffer from a tension headache every day - for weeks on end. This kind of tension headache is classified as a chronic tension headache because the symptoms may be experienced at least 15 days a month for a period of several months.

In the case of chronic tension headaches, the symptoms of the headaches are quite similar to those of tension headaches, except that the pain never actually seems to go away. People who have experienced chronic tension headaches, say that the pain is as if they were wearing a pressure band around their heads. Other people have described severe chronic tension headache pain as a hooded cape that drapes down onto their shoulders.

In the case of both tension headaches and chronic tension headaches, the pain can be felt either in the forehead region, in the sides of the head or sometimes even at the rear of the head. At its usual strength the chronic tension headache is a dull, aching pain, although sometimes the pain is like a tourniquet. Generally the pain is mild to moderately severe.

The severity of the pain varies with the general physical state of the individual concerned and it can also vary with the different kinds headaches. A lot of people start to experience chronic tension headaches as soon as they awake in the morning, whereas others say that their chronic tension headaches do not start until the early hours of the morning.

Normal tension headaches are more common than chronic tension headaches, however twice as many women as men suffer from chronic tension headaches. The duration and the severity of the pain is about the same as the normal variety in this sort of headache, however the pain from the chronic tension headache is almost a daily occurrence and is also continuous.

Those who suffer from chronic tension headaches are thought to be more prone to anxiety and depression than non-sufferers of chronic tension headaches. It is also well-documented that chronic tension headaches are more common during or after heightened periods of stress and anxiety. Furthermore, anyone who has mood disorders like depression or anxiety should have these conditions treated before getting their chronic tension headache attended to.

Those who suffer from chronic tension headaches can lead normal and fulfilling lives with the proper medication and treatment. Over time, they may understand what the triggers of their headaches are and how avoiding these triggers can prevent the onset of a bout of chronic tension headaches. - 30309

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How To Manage Stress

By Gabriel Lozen

Dealing with stress daily is certainly difficult. In addition, it is unavoidable so people have no choice but to deal with it daily. However, stress can be reduced or can simply be managed. There are many ways of dealing with stress but many people are not aware of these methods. A person not able to cope up with the daily stress is more likely to acquire long-term adverse emotional and mental effects. This is the reason why experts on this field of study suggest that people must learn about self-help stress management.

Stress shows symptoms as your body reacts to it. The most common signs of stress are:

-Headaches

-Muscle pains

-Dizziness

-Nausea

-Profuse sweating

-Irregular bowel movement

-Palpitation

-Involuntary shaking of the body

Experiencing the symptoms mentioned above are signs that a person is under stress. Experiencing the symptoms can lead to irritability. In the end, a person suffering from the symptoms may begin to develop other serious illnesses such as asthma, hearth ailments and insomnia. Other people may form bad habits such as excessive drinking and smoking. In these cases, self-help stress management will play an important role in aiding a person to cope up with his problem.

There are simple steps to follow in stress management. Mastering each step will enable a person to deal with stress with ease at any situation. Moreover, self-help stress management will help reduce the risk of developing bad habits, serious mental, emotional and physical ailments.

1. Problems are triggers of stress. Learning how to face a problem is the start of managing stress. Identify the problem and learn to accept it. Afterwards, find ways on how to solve the problem. You can get a lot of help from the people around you like friends, family members or even professionals in the field of stress management.

2. Identify the things that may stress you and avoid them. If the thing that triggers your stress is away from you, you will less likely feel stressed.

3. Sharing your feelings to others will help reduce the stress. However, you should also learn how to take charge of your own feelings related to the things that bring you stress.

4. Always think positively for negative thoughts will just add up to your stress.

5.Give yourself enough sleep or rest and take on a healthy diet.

6.Try to form a hobby to divert your mind into something enjoyable. - 30309

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Overcoming the Great Difficulties That Come With It - Loving Someone With OCD

By Veronica Carrillo

Are you having a hard time loving someone with OCD? Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can affect different kinds of people in numerous ways, but you don't have to be the one who's experiencing the problem directly to have difficulties of your own with it. When someone you care about shows signs of unusual behavior, it can frequently lead to causing trouble within the relationship. Most times this can get worse since no one actually understands what is happening.

Bad thoughts have an easier time manifesting in our minds while something we care about appears to be off. We become fearful that the trouble has something to do with ourselves, or even begin to have wrong ideas about the other person. You may question whether or not their actions are made with the point of annoying you, to make a plain statement, or any amount of other reasons. If you wish to know for sure what is happening, and to save your relationship before it becomes worse, you ought to do both of you a favor and simply chat.

One of the most noticeable problem and almost everyone has this involves forgetting names. This is to say the recent memories are affected however, it is surprising to note that short-term and remote memories are not usually affected. Proof that with aging the brain stores information differently. Also age-related decline of memory does not indicate lessened intelligence or inability to learn. The brain simply needs more time to process new information. Aging itself does not cause memory loss except in cases where there is a disease characterized by decline in brain function. Other causes of memory decline are psychological problems, head trauma, side effects of certain medications, substance abuse, and some infections.

No matter how absurd these feelings may sound to you, they are real, and caused by thoughts and fears that need to be addressed. You may find that the person feels a need to perform rituals, or takes up strange habits when doing something simple that you do normally. Loving someone with OCD can be a challenge, but you can be a big help in their efforts to defeat the problem, through caring and support. There are treatments out there that you should discuss together, and find out which is right for that person.

o Inability to handle finances or finish simple tasks. o Asking the same questions over and over. o Disorientation regarding time, people, places, or events. o Confusion in getting to a place you frequent such as the office. o Problems and difficulties in making even simple decisions. o Unable to follow simple directions like cooking a new recipe. o Forgetting how to do things you have done a gazillion times. o Repetition words or phrases in the same conversation. o Not paying attention to personal hygiene. o Constant irritability and incontinence.

The ultimate goal of bipolar treatment is to prevent or decrease both the frequency and intensity of depressive and manic episodes. It is an on-going process, but with proper treatment plans and medications, it is possible for the most severe bipolar patients to lead a fulfilling, healthy life. - 30309

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Alternative Medicine Can Help You Manage the Symptoms of Depression

By Sean Davids

While there are a number of anti-depressants currently on the market that can alleviate the symptoms of depression, there are pros and cons involved in taking them. While the right type and dosage of a prescription medication can sometimes meet with success for a patient, others may experience side effects that outweigh the benefits. For these reasons, many people choose to try alternative forms of treatment for managing their depression. Here are some of the ways in which you can do this.

A lack of certain vitamins can be a contributing factor to depression. For instance, Vitamin B9 (also known as Folic Acid) is very important for the proper functioning of the brain and therefore plays a significant role in one's mental and emotional health. It also aids in the production of DNA and RNA and is especially crucial during high growth periods, like infancy, adolescence, and pregnancy. Folic acid also helps form red blood cells. A folic acid deficiency can result in (among other things) mental sluggishness and depression.

All the members of Vitamin B family are responsible for breaking down of carbohydrates and proteins. Vitamin B6 (also known as Pyridoxine) also helps to regulate enzymes, healthy skin and digestion system, production of blood cells and antibodies. It also maintains the hormonal balance in women, as well as being very important in regulating mood and behavior. A deficiency of Pyridoxine can lead to irritation and anxiety, insomnia and nervousness. Vitamin B6 supplements have been used to help women cope with post menopause depression and anxiety.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) does not recognize depression as a specific illness but instead tries to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to the individual. A variety of techniques are used to restore imbalances found in the body, such as Chinese herbs, tui-na massage, exercise and acupuncture.

In a double blind randomized study of the effectiveness of acupuncture for treatment depression, 34 depressed female patients were assigned to one of three treatment groups for eight weeks. The first group received acupuncture treatment specifically tailored to their symptoms. The second group received a general acupuncture treatment that was not specific to depression, and the third group was placed on a waiting list for acupuncture treatment, but received none. The study found that those in the tailored acupuncture treatment experienced a more significant reduction in symptoms, compared to those in the non-specific treatment. In addition, more than half of the participants no longer met the accepted diagnostic criteria for depression after the study.

There are also a number of herbal remedies for treating depression. For example, ginko biloba is a natural ingredient that improves circulation in the brain, which often in turn improves memory and also eases some symptoms of depression. It can be taken along with other natural ingredients such as St. John's Wort as an overall mood enhancer.

While licorice has been known for a long time to be an effective herbal treatment for colds, recently recorded data have shown impressive results in the treatment of depression. Licorice is a natural anti-depressant which contains eight monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Licorice can be taken either as a capsule or drunk as a tea. However, if taken in too large a dose or over a lengthy period, there may be side effects like increased blood pressure, headaches and lethargy. Licorice should be supplemented with potassium capsules and increased water intake to offset the side effects, and should only be used on the advice of a licensed practitioner.

These are just some of the alternative forms of treatment that can be helpful in alleviating many of the symptoms of depression. As with anything, everyone will react to them in different ways. It is important to allow a trial period in order to feel the effects of the natural medications, as some will take several weeks to take effect. Always be sure to seek a doctor's advice before you decide to stop taking a prescription medication, and avoid combining prescription medications with natural medications on your own. - 30309

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