vitamin for depression: 2011

Top Five: The Most Nutritious Foods

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It is undeniable that the health of our body is closely associated to any kind of foods that we eat. Well, we can find a lot of nutritious foods, but sometimes choosing some of them that are actually useful for our body is not easy. -- Read also health benefits from vegetables!

In fact, making changes on what we eat is one of the easiest options to maintain

Keep Active Your Family and Kids (4 Simple Ideas)

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Well, it is undeniable by keeping active your kids will be helpful to promote good health for their body, especially for their heart. There are a lot of options to make your kids active so thus any heart disease or other health problems can be eliminated.

Read also another helpful articles about ideas to keep fit in the winter! The following are 4 simple ideas

5 Tips for Kicking Post-Holiday Blues

As the holiday season comes to an end, so, too, does the high octane way you've planned, shopped, traveled, and socialized. The holiday momentum of go, go, go, going screeches to a grinding halt.

Problem is, all the neurochemistry you needed to help you get through the holidays - stress hormones called cortisol and adrenaline – are leaving you feeling burned out, irritable, and just plain cranky.

Maybe your hopes for holidays with family and friends were unmet, and you now have to deal with emotional let-down. Then there's the march of the holiday bills -and thinking about paying the piper is not only depleting your bank account but your emotional well-being. All of these experiences are symptoms of Post Holiday Blues.

5 Tips to Kick the Blues

1. Sleep. After prolonged periods of stress, the body needs more sleep to slow the production of cortisol and adrenaline. Schedule a pajama day to just do nothing and rest. Consider unplugging from technology to give yourself some time to refuel.

2. Exercise. Moving your body at least 30 minutes a day will help rid excess adrenaline and cortisol that keep you from relaxing and/or sleeping soundly. Walk, run, and play with the dog. Have a catch with the kids. Just move your body.

3. Look forward. Keep your eyes on the next prize. The next birthday, an upcoming concert, a sporting event, etc. This keeps you forward-looking into the year rather than concentrating on the past holidays.

4. Relive the Memories. Objects and experiences help us embrace memories. Make sure you wear that new shirt or have the holiday photos somewhere in view. Taking time to appreciate the best-loved holiday moments will offset sadness.

5. Talk about it. Sharing your emotional experiences with another can help you problem solve and feel connected, reducing the likelihood of depression taking hold. Talking is also a great way of revisiting happy moments, making sense of sad experiences and solidifying self-decision making.

Why Woman Cannot Lose Weight Easily?

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We all agree that two of the most effective methods to drop extra pounds are by moving more and eating less. But there are also some women who are already doing anything right and still cannot seem to reduce the weight. If you feel one of them, you may need to read some suppressing factors or reasons below why women cannot lose their weight easily.

You may also

Ideas to Keep Fit in The Winter!

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Winter is something that can make you lazy to do any kind of exercise! But you have to keep motivated to do an effective exercise in order to keep fit in the winter. This is not only important to keep the health of your body but also closely associated to your productivity.

Well, one of great ideas is indoor exercise! It is effective enough to keep active and

Stress Can Complicate Pregnancy

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The suggestion to keep relax in order to quickly have a baby is so recommended. Women who are restless or stress in the fertile period tend to be more difficult fertilized than women who did not much mind (are not stress).

Although many people believe and have proved it but there are not enough of scientifically proofs about stress can complicate pregnancy!

4 Small Mistakes that Can Spread Germs

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Well, we can do many ways to avoid the spread of germs and keeps the health of our body. But actually there are 4 small mistakes made every day and could trigger the spread of germs.

You may also like to read tips to protect you from cold and flue!

You may think that with frequent hand washing, covering nose when sneezing and coughing or always wear masks are

What Can Cause or Triggers of Cancer?

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In fact, there are many things that can make people more susceptible to serious diseases like cancer, especially triggered by the amount of free radicals from the environment in this modern living. Let's stay away from the triggers of cancer!

You may also be interested to read about some cold fighting tips, before continuing!

Some recent research suggests

Health of Children and Soy

If you have a child then it is so important to make sure you give the right choice of a variety of nutritious and tasty foods so thus you can help your child get a healthy weight throughout his/her life. Read also ways to boost brainpower!

One of great choices for children is soy. What is the correlation between soy and the health of children? What can be done by soy to maintain the

Good Eating Plan for Healthy Heart

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It is undeniable that the health of your heart is also associated to what you eat! Therefore, it is so important to have a good eating plan in order to keep your heart healthy. You should know that there are a lot of researches result clearly evidence that the poor habits or lifestyles can generate heart attack and increase the risk of heart disease.

You may

Anti-Ageing Fighting Tips

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Healthy living is the key to keep younger your body, muscles, bones, brain, heart and your skin. What else you need to know?

You may also like to read about some ideas to keep younger, before continuing! The following are pieces of helpful information about some helpful anti-ageing tips:

Campaign “go green” slogan in your lifestyle!

Much better to

4 Tips to Find the Healthy Frozen Foods

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Do you love to consume frozen meals? If the answer is –yes then you should read some helpful tips below on how to find the healthy frozen foods! This is not only important to promote good health for your body but also helpful enough to optimize the healthiness of your diet program.

It is much better to prepare most of our meals by on our own with fresh healthy

Beat Fatigue Symptoms: What to Eat?

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The afternoon slump is often fund in our body after doing a lot of activities all day long. There are many factors that can make your body get more fatigue symptoms. But did you understand that fatigue symptoms also can be generated by the food that you eat?

For different individual, the description of fatigue may be explained or described differently. It is usually described

Tips for Keeping the "You" in Yuletide

The holiday season is not just a time for traditional festivities, merry making, good will and celebrating with loved ones. For some, it's the loneliest time of the year. For others, sadness of missing a loved one or recovering from a life-changing trauma tinges the season. Many fall into despair as self-reflection takes hold, measuring past accomplishment and failures. And then there are those who begin a downward spiral into the depths of depression.

Worries about job security, foreclosures, the ailing economy, and everyday living can make us all vulnerable during the holiday crush. Here are some tips to help you move through the holiday season as stress free as possible.

"You" Alone

• Combat loneliness. To offset social isolation, take advantage of free holiday activities. Participate in community events like tree or menorah lightings, free concerts, food or clothing drives, holiday banquets or community brunches.

• Be proactive. Don't wait to be invited somewhere. Invite someone over.

• Create new rituals. If old holiday traditions are no longer possible to do, find new ways to celebrate the season. Invent new rituals, traditions or remembrances.

• Take Care. Taking care of "you" during the holiday season helps to keep your mind and body primed to deal with sadness and stress. Pay attention to your own needs and feelings. Eat well and make sure you get enough healthy sleep.

• Don't be shy to ask for support. Accepting help from those who care about you and will listen to you strengthens your resilience and ability to manage the holiday season.

• Solidify bonds. Use the holidays as a time to reconnect with friends and family and strengthen your support network.

"You" with Others

• Be realistic. Unrealistic expectations are the single biggest cause of holiday depression. Unrealistic hopes that everything will be perfect, and everyone will be happy leads to disappointment, frustration and can trigger a depressive relapse.

• Be aware. Family conflicts can resurface during the holiday season. Try to avoid falling into old behavioral patterns with others. Be creative with seating or invite people to different occasions at different times. If necessary, avoid friction altogether by taking yourself out of the social equation with your own holiday celebration.

• Don't overschedule yourself. Most of our lives are already overscheduled, even before adding in holiday visits, religious events, and travel. Make plans carefully in advance and don't be afraid to say "no" if you feel burdened.

• Don't confuse "stuff" with "love". Make a budget and stick to it. Most of all, remember to give the gift of time to others. Long after the $100 video games are forgotten, kids will remember sledding down hills with you.

• Plan your time well. Don't put off shopping for food and presents. Feelings of helpless, guilt and hopelessness can give way when things are left to the last minute.

• Stay focused. Remember to focus on what you can control, not what's beyond your control. And don't be afraid to delegate what you might need help with.

Simple Guide to Ward off a Cold (Flue Fighting Tips)

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There are many people who have opinion that catching a cold in this winter is pretty reasonable!

But there are also some simple tips and ideas to ward off a cold in order to keep fit for your body and also will be helpful enough to eliminate or ward off viruses!

The following are helpful flue fighting tips.

Seeds and Nuts

You can provide a boost to a

5 Ideas to Keep Younger Your Body

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Well, all people want to keep looking younger every time, including for the younger performance of all organs of the body! And with more efforts, you can keep the health of your body to get longevity and extend your age range.

You can find a lot of ideas and advices on internet to keep fit and healthy -- the following are some of those ideas on how to keep

Lifestyle Approaches for Insomnia

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We all agree that lifestyle approaches are one of good ideas that we should prioritize for insomnia treatment before looking for medicine treatments. Non-medicine treatments like lifestyle approaches for insomnia have fewer effect and relatively safer for anyone.

Moreover, lifestyle approaches are great idea if you seriously want to get long-lasting effects to

Natural Back Pain Treatment Tips

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If you feel back pain, then it must be treated immediately. Well, there are several ways to medicate acute back pain. The option can be non-medicine ways or medicine treatments. Let’s to the point, the following are some back pain treatment tips.

Keep active and begin with gentle activity!

You may think, for a couple days you will reduce your activities in order to

How to Lower the Risk of Heart Disease?

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According to Australia National Heart Foundation, you can start with five simple steps to reduce the risk of heart disease; (1) doing regular heart check-ups, (2) check regularly the number of crucial parameters that can influence the performance of the heart (like blood pressure, waist measurement, and cholesterol level), (3) be more enjoyable with healthy

How to Stop or Quit Smoking?

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We all completely and clearly understand that smoking is not good for our health. But there are still a lot of people (either men or women) who are addicted to tobacco and they feel so difficult to stop or quit from smoking.

You have to trust on your ability to quit, use professional help if necessary!

Like written in the previous article, there are

Hazards of Smoking

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There is estimated around one of each 5 deaths in USA is caused by tobacco. Around 8.5 million of Americans suffer from chronic diseases and more than 435 thousands of individuals who lost their live caused by addicted smoking activities. Overall, there are a lot of hazards of smoking! Therefore it is much better for smoker to stop smoking as earlier as possible.

You might

Sexual Abuse in Sports

Research shows that sexual abuse happens in all sports and at all levels, with a greater prevalence occurring within the arena of high performance and elite sports. The sporting culture, with its larger-than-life coaches, fierce competition, the need for recognition and funding, and a "win at all costs" philosophy, creates an environment that contributes to the sexual exploitation of athletes.

Sexual abuse is both a physical act and a psychological experience. As a physical act, sexual abuse involves touching and non-touching behaviors. This can be done in coercive or seductive ways. As a psychological experience, the abuse of power and authority by the predator renders the athlete powerless. First a cycle of dependency is created between the predator and the athlete, involving special attention and friendship. Predators look to build a bond of loyalty, and then move to isolate and control the athlete. This specialness descends into sexual attention, where intimidation, guilt, secrecy and further dependency are manipulated. Sometimes the abuse occurs with threats and violence. Sometimes with deception or even with misdirected love. By the time the athlete wants to - or wishes - to disclose the nature of the sexual trauma, a sense of helplessness and hopelessness secures their silence.

Statistics

• Members of the athlete's entourage who are in positions of power and authority appear to be the primary perpetrators for sexual abuse. This includes coaches, trainers, athletic directors, physical therapists, etc.

• The risk of sexual abuse is greater when there are loose guidelines, unstructured and unsupervised practice times and high athlete vulnerability, especially in relation to age and maturation.

• Research identifies risk situations as the locker-room, the playing field, trips away, the coach's home or car, and social events, especially where alcohol is involved. Team initiations or end-of-season celebrations are also risk factors.

• Passive attitudes, non-intervention, denial, and/or silence by people in positions of power in sports culture increases the psychological harm of sexual abuse for the athlete.

• Lack of bystander action also creates the impression for victims that sexual abuse is legal and socially acceptable - and that those involved in the sporting world will be powerless to speak out against it.

The Depressive Fallout of Sexual Abuse

• Research demonstrates that sexual abuse in sport results in psychosomatic illnesses, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, self harm, and suicide.

• When it is impossible for a young athlete to avoid the reality of betrayal by someone who should be trusted, the child will blame himself. This blaming of the self significantly crushes well-being and any hope for healing from sexual assault.

• Abused or exploited athletes are re-victimized if they are rejected by their sports organization, community and society.

• The depression, isolation and self-destructiveness an athlete experiences will also have an adverse effect on his or her family.

• Athletes who make direct statements, indirect statements or display highly sexualized behavior are signaling their trauma. However, there are many who cannot, and descend into the depths of despair.

• If the process of healing does not take place, sexual trauma will last a lifetime.

Tips for Parents

• Communicate honestly and openly with your child. Encourage your child to keep no secrets from you.

• Reinforce safe boundaries for your child's physical, sexual and emotional life.

• Discuss trustworthy versus untrustworthy behavior in every day conversation.

• Keep an open dialogue going when your child is spending time with adults outside of your reach.

• When involving your child in sports, ensure the organization and coaches have gone through criminal checks, child abuse registry etc.

• Be present at the training area so you can observe the interaction between your child and his or her coach.

• Be wary of coaches who tell you things about your child that in your heart you know are not true.

• If your child discloses that something inappropriate has occurred, reassure and support them.

• Tell your child you believe them - and don't blame them.

• Tell your child you will keep them safe.

• Let them know you are glad they told you.

• Try not to appear shocked, disgusted by your child's disclosure.

• Resist the urge to interview your child to gain more information.

• Don't tell your child that you blame yourself for not knowing this was going on.

• Don't confront the predator or take matters into your own hands. Call the authorities and seek professional help immediately.

Boost Brainpower with 7 Smart Ways

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Drinking green tea

You can eliminate the experience of psychological distress by drinking green tea regularly for each day. According to The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, this is good behavior for 20% less likely to experience distress than if we do not drink green tea regularly.

Why not try to learn another language?

Ellen Bialystok, Ph.D,

3 Healthy Holiday Tips for Your Travel

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Holiday is one of the most fun activities but sometimes without adequate preparation, there are always the risks of yucky infections or nasty injuries.

So it is better also to consider the safety, especially for your health during holiday. Below are helpful healthy holiday tips for your travel.

Prepare and bring the first-aid essentials along with your travel!

Well

Ideas for Healthy Christmas Gifts!

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Are you looking for a nice Christmas gift for somebody? Well, you might clearly understand that there are a lot of choices to choose!

But whatever your selection, it is better to choose one that not only actually needed by receiver but also much better will give a significant contribution to the health of recipient. So why you don't choose healthy Christmas

Pregnancy: Drinking Alcohol (Safe or Not)

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During pregnancy, it is much more recommended to avoid drinking alcohol, otherwise can lead to the risk of mental and physical birth defects. You should know that there is around 40,000 babies with variety degrees (1 - 2) of alcohol-related damage. Even light drinking alcohol during pregnancy also can lead to the potential harm for the fetus.

There are a lot

4 Bad Things You Have to Avoid at Your Desk!

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It is undeniable that today there are a lot of people (particularly for anyone who works indoor ) who spend most of the days just for sitting on the chair (office chair) and working at desk (in front of a monitor of a computer).

If you are one of them, you could spend long hours (up to 8 hours or even more) a day at your desk and chair. Well, there are 4 bad things you have to

The Power of Gratitude

Gratitude is the “forgotten factor” in happiness research.

Scientists are latecomers to the concept of gratitude. Religions and philosophies have long embraced gratitude as an indispensable manifestation of virtue, and an integral component of health, wholeness, and well-being.

Through conducting highly focused, cutting-edge studies on the nature of gratitude, its causes, and its consequences, we hope to shed important scientific light on this important concept.

University of Miami psychology professor Michael McCullough, who has studied people who are asked to be regularly thankful, said: "When you are stopping and counting your blessings, you are sort of hijacking your emotional system." What McCullough means is that by taking inventory of what you are thankful about directs you attention to good things.

An "Attitude of Gratitude" can soften a bad mood, a tough day or a broken heart. It also stretches the margins of your well-being.

Better Health with Black-Color Foods

Well, there are a lot of foods to encourage the quality of your healthy living. And as well we know, there are also many healthy foods that have dark color. The dark color is usually caused by plant pigments (anthocyanins). In many cases, black foods also have higher amounts of antioxidants (compared to light-colored foods).

You might also like to read best foods to decrease cholesterol and

Top 3 Health Advantages of Tea!

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As well we know, there are several types of tea, such as; white, green, oolong and black tea. And all of these types are produced from the leaves of Camellia sinensis-plant. You may know about peppermint & chamomile, there are some people who categorize them into tea, but technically they cannot be considered tea.

So, why you should try and drink tea

Choosing a Plastic Surgeon: Crucial Issues to Look For!

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In this modern living, there are a lot of options to look perfect in the appearance of your beauty, including through plastic surgery. But the quality is the priority and don’t forget to the safety by choosing the right plastic surgeon.

As well we know that plastic surgery is usually performed to improve the condition of people who have an accident, certain illnesses or the

Top 5 Ideas to Sleep Better

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Do you feel not-easy to take a rest of your sleeping at night? Or do you feel worn out or crabby lately? If the answer is –yes, then you should re-analyze on how to sleep better!

Well, there are some associated factors with a good or bad quality of your night’s sleep, such as; deadline pressure at your workplace, illness, relationship issues or the other

10 Simple Steps to Get Sexy-Flat Abs

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Every woman wants to get sexy-flat abs! Having a slim stomach can increase your confidence and encourage your style in your lifestyle.

You must be willing to do special exercises in order to make your stomach look slimmer. And if you still don’t have any idea or program to lose your belly fat, the following are 10 simple steps that may be helpful for you to

International Suicide Survivor Awareness Day

Every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving is International Suicide Survivor Awareness Day. This global effort reaches out to hundreds of thousands of people who've lost a loved one to suicide. This Saturday, November 19, 2011, is their 13th year of raising awareness and providing support.

Over 230 simultaneous conferences for survivors of suicide loss will take place throughout the U.S. and across the world. An amazing network of healing conferences is available for those who have survived the tragedy of suicide loss.

Connecting on this day allows survivors to know that they are not alone in this experience. And perhaps more important than anything else, research has shown that survivors of suicide contribute significantly in better understanding suicide and its prevention. There is great power in the personal narrative.

Read more on suicide outreach and about the 10 common myths about suicide here

And if you are in crisis, please call 1-800-273-TALK

Lawyers with Depression: An Interview with Dan Lukasik

Do you know what profession has the highest level of depression?

That'd be Lawyers.

Attorneys take a lot of guff. From lawyer-hating jokes to late night comic jabs. Cases that are adversarial, hostile and highly pressured. In truth, it's a profession where someone either wins or loses. There's no in-between. This all-or-nothing way of working can wreak havoc if you're not careful.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Lawyers with Depression founder, Dan Lukasik, for a conversation about depression in the legal profession. The biggest issue for anyone interested in, or currently practicing in the legal profession is that your analytical and arguing talents prime your for developing a mood disorder.

For more on learning why and discovering tips to combat depression, read the interview here.

How to Protect Your Heart at 20-30 Year Old?

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Heart disease risk is now not only greater for older people but also can attack productive age (20-30 year old). Yet in fact the disease can be prevented.

Here are pieces of helpful information that you can do to maintain heart health.

At 30 year old

Keep your weight

At the age of 30 years usually we start a well-established economic level. Make sure you

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What do you see?

Why We Watch Scary Movies

There are many reasons why we watch scary movies.

Psychological research finds a strong correlation between the desire to watch suspenseful or scary entertainment and the viewer’s high need for physical arousal or excitement. So, some of us watch scary films for the thrill of it. It's safe because we're watching it, not living it. The great master of horror, Alfred Hitchcock said, "People like to be scared when they feel safe."

Others may watch horror movies to root for old-fashioned virtues of morality and justice. Or to problem solve, by figuring out ways to escape terror. Or to revisit a trauma without having to relive it in real time. Then there are those who might watch to release their own aggressive or violent wishes in a more socially approachable way. By just watching it.

Research at King's College in London said that the key to a great scary movie is the balance between suspense and gore. If little is shown on screen it allows one's mind to invent the fright. According to the researchers, Jaws was the perfect scary movie because, "Steven Spielberg reached the optimum level perfectly allowing the viewer to see just enough blood to be scared of the Great White Shark, but not so much that it repulsed us."

Yup, I agree. "Jaws" is on my scariest movies list - and I haven't been more than waist deep in the ocean since seeing it in 1975.

So, in the spirit of Halloween, what's your favorite scary movie?

How To Surgically Look Like Barbie

In the latest issue of O Magazine, model Katie Halchishick becomes the human diagram. Posing for photographer Matthew Rolston, her glamorous, Marilyn Monroe-type features are surgically outlined according to Barbie's proportions.

Here’s a breakdown of what she'd need done to be the kind of doll women aspire to: a brow lift, a jaw line shave, rhinoplasty, a cheek and neck reduction, a chin implant, scooped-out shoulders, a breast lift, liposuction on her arms, and tummy tuck, which would also have to be sculpted as if it were lined in whale-bone from the inside. And that’s just the half of her.

Halchishick doesn’t actually need or want any of these procedures. She’s proving a point: just because our distorted image of how a body should be is medically attainable, that doesn’t mean it should be attained.

I had a Barbie doll growing up, but I played with it only once or twice. She bothered me. Dressing her took too long, her shoes never stayed on and her hair felt rough and threadlike. I wonder if finding her undesirable was some kind of foreshadowing for things to come in my life. And don't get me started about Ken...

Trend Alert: Suicide in Later Life Women

Though suicide is the most preventable kind of death, more than 3,000 people die by suicide each day—more than all the deaths caused by accidents, wars, and homicides around the world, combined.

The largest growing number of completed suicides is occurring in later life, more specifically with women aged 50 and older. A recent study has shown a staggering 49% rise in emergency room visits for drug-related suicide attempts by females of this age population. The lethal drugs of choice are narcotic pain relievers hydrocodone and oxycodone.

This research makes the case that late-life suicide is a cause for great concern that warrants ongoing attention from researchers, health care providers, policy makers, and society at large.

Related Facts

Suicide is a significant risk for anyone with a mental illness, but is exponentially higher for people with depression.
Women attempt suicide more than men.
The steep rise in abuse of “narcotic pain relievers” by women is considered a public health crisis.
Physical pain can often mask a depressive disorder
Prescriptions for anti-anxiety medication and antidepressant medication have tripled over the last decade, while the seeking of psychotherapy has significantly reduced. This suggests pills are valued more-so than skills.
Economic stress presses heavily on baby boomers, creating a sense of vulnerability with regard to financial security.

The hard and cold truth is that not all suicides are preventable. Though many individuals plan and even leave clues regarding their objective, there are others that act on impulse, leaving no indelible imprint of their intentions. It’s crucial for family and friends of a person who has died by suicide not to blame themselves for “not knowing”.

10 Tips to Offset This trend

1) Know risks for suicide. Awareness can help identify at-risk adults :
• Previous suicide attempt(s)
• History of depression or other mental illness
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Family history of suicide or violence
• Physical illness
• Sudden loss or significant change
• Feeling alone

2) Understand the true definition of depression. It’s essential to understand that depression is not just a disorder of mood. It is a disorder of thinking which infects the clarity of the mind like a virus attacks the body. It weakens your defenses, cripples your resolve, and leaves you vulnerable to corrosive thoughts. If you think someone is depressed, don’t rely on them reaching out to you. Instead, be proactive. Call them. Check in. Visit in person. And if you feel worried about them, don’t hesitate to call for help (Police, Fire Department, Family/Friends).

3) Perfecting Diagnosis. Primary care physicians and other health providers need to recognize that physical pain is often a symptom of depression. Better detection, diagnosis and follow up care are needed. In addition, professionals who prescribe narcotics, or any kind of medication, should monitor the frequency of requested refills. Family members should also be aware. This helps to sequester the lethality of the drugs.

4) Understand your life-cycle. The mental and physical health needs of women vary across the life span. We need to teach women what to expect when these changes occur. For example, low levels of estrogen have been linked to suicidal behavior in women. As women age, many go through the emotional process of a “life review” (measuring what they’ve done in their life as mortality approaches), which can heighten sadness. Social connections can wane with age, so isolation is a common experience in later life. It’s vital to encourage women to take an active role in monitoring their own health, so if confronted with these developmental experiences, alternatives can be explored.

5) Find balance. Interpersonal stress is a risk factor for suicide. Illness, job loss, or any kind of adversity can shake one’s feeling of hope and resolve. It’s important for women to keep a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep. Getting a good 30 minutes a day of natural sunshine boosts melatonin – and exercise releases mood pleasing endorphins. If you notice that someone you love is under stress and not tending to self-care, consider this a significant setback and risk factor.

6) Connect with others. A loss of personal control is another issue related to suicidal thinking in older females. For example, women who no longer feel important or necessary to family and/or children, or who no longer feel useful can lapse into self-destructive thoughts. A central way to combat this is to reinvest socially with others. Be it volunteering, finding a low-stress part time job, joining a book club, the goal here is to form new connections and feelings of self worth.

7) Pills are not skills. We need to return to recommending psychotherapy for skill building and problem solving when it comes to mental illness. We live in a disposable society, where medication is seen the quick fix. Medication is a tremendous tool for dealing with suicide and depression, but it’s not sufficient enough to help women navigate the challenges that present in later-life.

8) Choose life affirming experiences. Make sure to activate your senses. Touch. See. Smell. Taste. Listen. Re-engage to the world and it will refuel you. The goal here is to redirect negative thinking to more positive kinds of experiences.

9) Stay away from alcohol and drugs. This includes recreational, over the counter and prescriptive. They can blur your thinking and loosen inhibition.

10) Have a safety plan at-the-ready. Knowing what to do if suicidal thinking occurs can reduce death by suicide. Identify triggers that may lead to a suicidal crisis, such as an anniversary of a loss, stress from work, or a love relationship. Also include contact numbers for the person's doctor or therapist, as well as friends and family members who will help in an emergency. It’s also a good idea to share this safety plan with others.

Reference:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2011). DAWN report: Trends in emergency department visits for drug-related suicide attempts among females: 2005 and 2009. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, May 12, 1-6.

October 10th is World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day has been celebrated annually on the 10th of October since 1992. Now in it's 19th year, this year's campaign is "Investing in Mental Health."

Here are some facts about mental health:

*The burden of mental disorders gives rise to huge social and economic consequences to individuals, their families and whole communities or populations.

*Neuropsychiatric disorders cause 1/3 of years lost due to disability worldwide and account for 13% of total disease burden.

*80% of the global burden of disease due to mental disorders is found in low- and middle-income countries.

*Among all disabilities, mental disorders are associated with the highest rates of unemployment, between 70% and 90%.

*Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

*33% of countries have no mental health budget.

*1 in 4 people will be affected by a mental disorder at some point in their lives.

*Every 40 seconds someone dies by suicide.

*4 out of 5 people with mental disorders in developing countries don’t receive treatment.

*Almost 50% of all mental disorders begin before the age of 14.

I blog for World Mental Health Day

5 Myths about Antidepressant Medications

1. Antidepressants are “addictive”.

False. Antidepressants are not addictive in the way that most people would use the word. You don’t “crave” your antidepressant. However, the medicine that gets introduced to your central nervous system becomes something your body recognizes each day. So stopping medication without the guidance from a professional can cause your body to react to the loss of these neurotransmitters. This experience, called discontinuation syndrome, can be avoided completely when proper dosage-stopping is observed.

2. Antidepressants are “happy pills”.

False. Antidepressants are not "uppers." Unlike drugs like speed or ecstasy which improve the mood of anyone who takes them, antidepressants only improve the mood of people with a mood disorder. So if someone who isn't depressed takes antidepressants, the only change they'll notice will be possible side effects...which, really, are not very happy inducing.

3. Antidepressants are a "quick fix" and don't really cure depression.

False. One thing antidepressants surely aren’t is quick. Most take a minimum of four to six weeks to work. And they are not meant to "fix" your depression, per se. Most people with depression need to address social and environmental issues that contribute to their depression. Treatment for depression is a two-step process: 1) Antidepressants change brain chemistry 2) As mood improves, healthier lifestyle choices and problem solving occurs.

4. Antidepressants will change your personality.

False. Antidepressants normalize the mood ranges of children and adults who have a mood disorder. Who you are doesn’t change, so your personality stays intact. Antidepressant medication lifts my sadness, which then allows me to be who I fully am. I’m not a different person because I take antidepressant medication. I’m me, only better.

5. Once you start taking antidepressants, you're on them for the rest of your life.

False. For the majority of people, this is not true. Many who take antidepressant medication will stop their prescription when recovery from depression occurs. This clinical state of recovery takes about a year or so to achieve. Antidepressants have been shown to re-adjust brain activity, so those who follow their treatment regime to the letter, often don’t need to remain on medication. But there are some, like me, who must remain on medication, indefinitely. I’ve discontinued medication twice only to find depressive symptoms returning. So, I’m a lifer. And that’s fine with me, because I feel great.

Blogthings: Happy Pattern Quiz

My Happy Pattern

You can't help but think outside the box. As far as you're concerned, you don't even know where the box is.

You have a delightful and colorful inner world. People would be stunned if they could see inside your head.

You get a lot of laughter out of life, and others are surprised by how easy it is to make you happy.

You have no desire to lead or follow. You prefer to not be a part of the crowd.

The Happy Pattern Test

9/11: Ten Years Later

• Ten years later, 95% of the 3000 survivors of the World Trade Center continue to experience significant PTSD.

• Ten years later, mental health statistics show that PTSD and depression are not just experienced by those at ground zero or those who lost a loved one, were first responders or engaged in cleanup or recovery. Data shows that millions who witnessed the event continue to suffer psychological consequences.

• Ten years later, parents who had been highly exposed to 9/11-related trauma experience significant panic and anxiety than low-exposed parents.

• Ten years later, the brain biology of children and adults who were in close proximity to the disaster remain in a hypervigilant state.

• Ten years later, studies polling public opinion suggest that the country lacks confidence with news information and with reporting of intelligence obtained.

• Ten years later, uneasiness still lingers for plane crews and travelers alike.

• Ten years later, a team of scientists are still working full time to identify 9/11 victim remains.

• Ten years later, cancer rates continue to skyrocket around the World Trade Center perimeter.

• Ten years later, political discourse persists, leaving many Americans doubting governmental officials and policymakers

• Ten years later, youth growing up in the shadow of 9/11 are more mistrusting of the world around them.

Tips to Offset These Trends

• When dealing with trauma, it’s vital to know about the Anniversary Effect. Sometimes called an Anniversary Reaction, this psychological event sets into motion unsettling feelings, thoughts or memories that occur on the anniversary of a significant experience (i.e. Divorce, Death, Trauma, and Disaster). It’s very common to have strong emotional reactions weeks before an anniversary date, and continue even afterwards. This is an expected reactive state, so know that there’s nothing wrong with you. Understanding the anniversary effect can help you make sense of the emotional turmoil you’re experiencing.

• Historical disasters, traumas or crises receive significant media coverage. Often, media outlets revisit distressing imagery. Limit your watching of TV, reading of newspapers and visiting of Internet news sites around those dates. Secondary trauma, also called Vicarious Trauma, is when you witness an event that causes you distress. As the anniversary of 9/11 approaches, also limit your exposure from others who can’t refrain from talking about the event. Make it a no-drama day.

• You don’t have to feel imprisoned by a distressing experience of the past. Create a shield of resilience. Make sure you take good care of yourself during these times. Self-care, support and comfort will ground you as you move through a difficult trauma. Express your memories and feelings by talking with a family member or friend, writing or using physical activity to de-stress. Other ways to express your inner experiences can include the creative arts. These activities can re-set brain biology and soften hypervigilance.

• If you find that you're struggling with trauma, remember that you're not alone. Loss affects each of us differently, so don't put a time limit on your grief. Don’t compare the trajectory of your recovery to anyone else’s. What 9/11 has shown the mental health community is that there’s no finite time-line for healing.

• Though studies show that parents who were directly exposed to 9/11 are over-reactive, the data shows that their kids generally don’t follow suit. If you can’t reel your panic or worries in about every day matters, know that your child is less impressionable than you think. Kids have a keen ability to know when something is worry-worthy.

• When curious about world events, get information from various sources, including out- of-the-country news programming. This will help you get a more balanced perspective of news worthy information.

• Consider taking the pain of this anniversary date and turning it into a day of service or memorial. Don’t linger on the helplessness or hopelessness this day evoked for yourself, your family or the country. Be determined to mark the day in a positive way.

• When traveling, empower yourself with facts grounded in reality. For example, air travel is statistically the safest mode of transportation. To help yourself feel confident, make sure you follow travel guidelines and conform to safety standards. And remember that not all anxiety is bad. Being attentive, even a bit nervous, can be a good thing. It enables you – and others – to be watchful and self-protective.

• While some may have found a sense of closure with the events of 9/11, there are others who are still in a state of prolonged grief or trauma. Be respectful and compassionate. Don’t shame or blame a person for not being able to “get over” this crisis.

• When it comes to getting aid or governmental funding for your health care as a 9/11 survivor, don’t let bureaucratic obstacles sideline your well-being. Continue going for your treatments while others tend to dealing with the procedural or legislative delays.

• Trauma dislodges the bond we have to others. Though terrorism can unsettle anyone’s foundation of trust, it’s important to help those shaken by 9/11 understand that the evil acts of few are not in the heart of many. This is especially true for children who have grown up alongside the specter of 9/11.

Resources

Block-Elkon, Y. (2011). The Polls—Trends: Public Perceptions and the Threat of International Terrorism after 9/11. Public Opinion Quarterly, 75(1) 366-392.

Brandon, S. E. (2011). Impacts of psychological science on national security agencies post-9/11. American Psychologist, 66, doi:10.1037/a0024818

Eisenberg, N., & Silver, R. C. (2011). Growing up in the shadow of terrorism: Youth in America after 9/11. American Psychologist, 66 doi:10.1037/a0024619

Ganzel, B. et. al (2011). The aftermath of 9/11: Effect of intensity and recency of trauma on outcome. Emotion, 7(2), 227-238.

Lindstrom, K.M et. al. (2011). Attention orientation in parents exposed to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and their children . Psychiatry Research, 187 (1,2) 261-266.

Neria, Y., DiGrande, L., & Adams, B. G. (2011). Posttraumatic stress disorder following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks: A review of the literature among highly exposed populations. American Psychologist,66, doi:10.1037/a0024791

Inkblot Fun: What Do You See?

Hmmm....this inkblot is a toughie. Not very obvious images. What do you see?

Remember: This is not an original Rorschach. That would be unethical to post!

The Power of "What"

Sometimes the question "why?" is a good one. Like, why can't we live in a more peaceful world? Or why did I eat *all* those cookies? And why don't we call mustaches mouthbrows?

But there are times - especially during a crisis - when "why" may not the best puzzle to solve. When you're in an emotional entanglement, a difficult predicament or a physical hardship, asking "what" will do more.

What has directionality.

Why keeps you stuck in circular thinking.

What offers solutions.

Why offers no game plan.

So, the next time you find yourself in a bad place, ask yourself:

"What can I do to make things better?

not

"Why is this happening to me?

Once the crisis is over THEN you can search for the "Why".

What's Unique about Your Heart?

Your Heart is Open

You love easily and without fear of rejection. You believe that love is the meaning of life. You wish you could connect with every single person in the world. Relationships are a cornerstone of your life. You think that life has a purpose. You try to live each moment with as much meaning as possible. You deeply care for your friends and family. Anyone close to you feels amazingly loved.

What's Unique About Your Heart?

Grand Rounds 7:46

Grand Rounds is a weekly round up of the best health blog posts on the Internet. Each week a different blogger takes turns hosting - me this time around - and summarizes the submissions of the week.

As a music lover, I thought I'd give Grand Rounds a vintage vinyl feel. So please make sure your phonographs are ready to go. Thanks to Dr. Val Jones and Dr. Nick Genes for the invite.

Song List

Striving: By Glass Hospital A moving post about the life and experiences of an 88 year old doctor who gave much to others.

Beyond Bullet Points: By Dr. Shock This post looks at how multimedia teachings improve medical student retention.

QD: News Everyday - Rise in Antidepressants Called into Question:By ACP Internist This post highlights how perscriptions for antidepressants by non-psychiatric professionals has increased over more than a decade.

How to Prevent Drowning: By Healthline A straightforward read on risk for and prevention of drowning.

If You Can't Say Something Nice" By Table for One This post looks at the difficulties doctors face in presenting bad news to patients and their families.

Song List

Dislocated Shouler - Relationship Realignment: By In Sickness and In Health Injury and illness can press on the dynamics of a relationship. This post looks autonomy and dependence.

OCD Perfectionism and Social Anxiety Treatment: Tweet Your Way To Better Health How the use of social media can lessen anxiety disorders in children and adults.

High Profile People Who Live With Mood Disorders: By Dr. Deb This short video shows just how many high profile people have mood disorders - and helps to take stigma out of mental illness.

Song List

Nine Signs You Should Fire Your Patient: By Insureblog Well written post on when patients might need to get the boot.

Unintended Consequences of Changing the Current 510K System for Moderate Risk Devices: By Health Business Blog Looks at the approval process of medical devices and how they are enough safegaurds in place.

The Ship of State Capsized by a Silver Tsunami of Greedy Geezers: By Health AGEnda A well written argument regarding the recent Wall Street Journal op-ed that reported that medicare patients see their doctors more than non-medicare patients.

Bad Language: Words One Patient Won't Use (And Hopes You Won't Either): By Prepared Patient How certain words can shift the focus away from what patients really need.

US Rumor and Hospital Report: By Not Running a Hospital A gloves-off review of the annual hospital review from US News and World Report.

A One Song Album

Die Taal: By Bongi : This post looks at speaking English at Grand Rounds.

Hybrid Imagery

Hybrid Imagery combines the low spatial frequencies of one picture with the high spatial frequencies of another. The end result is an optical illusion that can be perceived in two ways.

Can you see Albert Einstein?

Who else do you see?

High Profile People Who Talk Openly About Mental Illness

Take a look at some of the celebrities who live with a mental illness.

My book, "Living with Depression" is officially on sale, and includes a list of over 400 high profile people that live with a mood disorder. Actors, artists, athletes, comedians, entrepreneurs, musicians, world leaders, sports legends and many famous others from all different fields - and all different countries.

The more that high profile people share their experiences with depression, the more stigma gets its butt kicked. There's no shame living with a mental illness - and after you learn about the well-known men and women who do, you're sure to decide you're in good company.

For more information, link here.

Out of Body Experiences

Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are typically associated with individuals who have certain kinds of dissociative or post traumatic disorders. Though people who are generally in good health also report having OBEs, the experience is poorly understood. Often, out-of-body experiences are met by others with skepticism and stigma.

A new study, published in the July 2011 issue of Cortex, has shown that OBEs are related to anomalies in the neural systems in the brain's temporal lobes - and that the body's sense of itself, called body awareness, misfires. Data from this study has enabled scientists to better understand how normal "in-the-body" mental processes work... and why, when they break down, they produce such striking experiences.

We know that epilepsy, headaches and seizures have a basis in brain neuro-circuitry, but psychological disorders also greatly influence the workings of the brain. Trauma, anxiety, depression and dissociation can have a profound effect, with out-of-body experiences being one of them.

Now science backs this up.

Purple Nurple Illusion

The Purple Nurple Optical Illusion by Walter Anthony

Time for more fun with illusions. Created by Walter Anthony, this vivid optical illusion moves despite being a still life creation.

Illusions like these are part-psychology (interpretation, imagination and memory) and part-physiology (depth perception, focus, attention and eye movement). But looking too much into the neuroscience of illusions can take the fun out of the experience.

So, just marvel in the magic of how this static object swirls, contracts and expands. And visit Mr. Anthony's webpage for more fun.

I Love NY: Same Sex Marriage Is Law

A healthy sense of self includes being validated and recognized by others. Also vital is the ability to share the rights and liberties of those around you.

Nice job, New York. It's about time.

Happy Faces: Pareidolia

The neuropsychological phenomenon by which the brain interprets vague images as specific ones is called Pareidolia. A good example of this is when you see faces or animals in clouds. You can pretty much "see" familiar objects in almost anything.

The tendency for us to see faces in other objects has its origin in our neural architecture. It could be said that though many of us use our eyes to view the world, we really see by using our brain.

Here are a collection of happy faces. Do you see them all? Do you "feel" happy looking at them?

Living with Depression

My nonfiction book "Living with Depression" is now available here... and at Amazon worldwide.

Part memoir, part self-help, this book is for anyone who loves someone with a mood disorder or experiences depression themselves. "Living with Depression" is also a great teaching tool, providing research and global resources - and the first-ever list of high profile individuals who live with a mood disorder.

I've been lucky to get endorsements for the book by stigma expert, Dr. Patrick Corrigan; actress, Delta Burke- who's been outspoken about her own depression, and actor Glenn Close and her sister, Jessie, who lives with Bipolar Disorder.

If you get my book, please let me know what you think once you've read it. I hope it changes the world a little bit - and helps a whole lot of people.

10 + 1 Tips for Being Medication Smart

The National Council on Patient Information and Education has a list of 10 ways to become medicine smart. When you get a prescription, remember to ask these questions:

1. What is the name of the medicine and what is it for? Is this the brand name or the generic name?

2. Is a generic version of this medicine available? If so, it may be more cost effective.

3. How and when do I take it - and for how long?

4. What foods, drinks, other medicines or activities should I avoid while taking this medicine?

5. When should I expect the medicine to begin to work - and how will I know if it's working?

6. Are there any side effects? What are they and what do I do if they occur?

7. Will this medicine work safely with the other prescription and nonprescription medicines I'm taking? Will it work safely with any supplements I use, like vitamins, for instance?

8. Do I need to get a refill? If so, when?

9. How should I store this medicine?

10. Is there any written information available about the medicine? Is it available in large print or a language other than English?

+1: This is my plus 1 to the list. Keep a list of all the medications you take available in your wallet, handbag or on your cellphone. In case of an emergency, the medications you take will be at-the-ready should the information be needed.

Hey, I'm a Mental Health Hero

I'm very delighted to be honored as a Mental Health Hero by Chato B. Stewart during Mental Health Awareness month. It's always nice to get a pat on the back for work you've done, and I'm especially proud to be a Mental Health Hero.

Mental illness touches one in four Americans - yet only 25% will seek treatment for symptoms. Stigma claims the other 75%, wedging those who live with mental illness into a life of silent suffering.

Don't let shame keep you from getting the help you need.

Live loud and live proud.

Anagram Movies: A Lateral Thinking Exercise

"Critical Thinking" is the process by which we look for errors and find answers. Essentially, we use rules and judge their usage to solve an issue.

"Lateral Thinking" is a different process. In this type of thinking we find solutions by reworking the rules to use creativity to get answers. Research says that lateral thinkers are better problem solvers.

Below you'll find movies that have their original titles, but the letters have been moved around to create new words. These anagram movies are not only funny, they're an example of lateral thinking. So play around with the title of a movie and give it a new title. But, please, keep 'em G rated!

Mental Health Blog Party 2011

In honor of the American Psychological Association's Mental Health Blog Party, I'm featuring a post on famous psychologists and their quotes. Enjoy these wise words of wisdom and inspiration.

People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within. ~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1926-2004) Swiss-American Psychiatrist.

"Thought is action in rehearsal." ~ Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Austrian founder of Psychoanalysis.

"Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success." ~ Dr. Joyce Brothers (1928-) American Psychologist.

"Education is not just the filling of a pail, it is the lighting of a fire." ~ B. F. Skinner (1904-1990) American Psychologist.

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens." ~ Carl Jung (1875-1961) Swiss Psychiatrist.

"Hate is a product of the unfulfilled life." ~ Erich Fromm (1900-1980) American Psychoanalyst.

"All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on." ~ Henry Ellis (1859-1939) British Psychologist.

"If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail." ~ Abrahamm Maslow (1908-1970) American Psychologist.

"All of us are much more human than otherwise. " ~Harry Stack Sullivan (1892-1941) American Psychologist.

"Life itself still remains a very effective therapist." ~ Karen Horney (1885-1952) American Psychoanalyst.

The Ambivalent Mind

Of all the things I've seen in my work, I'd have to say that ambivalence - the state in which one feels contradictory emotions for a person or a situation - is a rough road. The coexistence of both positive and negative feelings towards a situation or a person keeps you in an emotional holding pattern. Your ambivalent mind draws you in and then pushes you away. You live your life in an approach-avoidance style.

As a result, this rigid cycling pattern never moves you forward. You are constantly moving from one side of the fence to the other. "Do I want this? I think maybe I don't." "I really like her, but sometimes I'm not so sure." Or you park yourself entirely on the fence. "I'm not making any decisions about anything."

Ambivalent thinking has genetic origins to obsessive compulsive tendencies, psychological defensive styles like "splitting" or personality disorders, and under-developed cognitive-behavioral styles of problem solving. If you're ambivalent, there are things you can do to break the holding pattern. Professional help can get you going in the right direction.

If you're involved with someone who is chronically ambivalent, keep an eye on the grains of sand in the hourglass. If too much time goes by and the relationship is unhealthy, it may be a good idea to think about detaching yourself.

Two Takes on Mother's Day

Mother's Day is a holiday that is marked world-wide. Countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, China and Japan, just to name a few, give moms a special day shout-out on the yearly calendar.

Historically, Mother's Day has been a day where children and other family members honor mothers or individuals who are nurturing and caretaking in maternal ways. For some, it's a day of celebration, of expressing one's love and appreciation for a mothering figure. The day is met with happiness and a full heart.

However, for others, Mother's Day is not so easy. It can bring forth sadness, loss and yearning if one's mother has died. Or if a mother has lost a child, it can become an excruciating day filled with grief. Anger and resentment can give way if a person has not had a good relationship with his or her mother. There are many more examples....too many to list in this post.

In my work, landmark days, anniversary dates or holidays of any kind can be especially difficult for anyone who has experienced loss, death or the recognition of toxicity in a relationship. Of all the days in the calendar year, Mother's Day and Father's Day can evoke the most profound emotional responses.

To those of you who struggle with this day, know that you're not alone. Give yourself permission to feel and think whatever may come from within. It's important for your to mother yourself.

References:

Hinton, C. (2004). Silent grief. Portland: New Leaf Press.

Pollock, G. H. (1970). Anniversary reactions, trauma, and mourning. Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 39: 347-371.