blog.Live Health com.net » Depression http://blog.livehealthcom.net The comprehensive blog on health articles and news. Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:41:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 en hourly 1 Do You Understand The Depression Illness? http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/do-you-understand-the-depression-illness/ http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/do-you-understand-the-depression-illness/#comments Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:40:18 +0000 admin http://blog.livehealthcom.net/2009/12/do-you-understand-the-depression-illness/

Depression affects millions of people around the globe every year. This disorder does not care about an age group either. Depression in children is just as prevalent as it is in adults. However, many who have this disorder do not seek treatment because of the negative connotations »»]]>

Depression affects millions of people around the globe every year. This disorder does not care about an age group either. Depression in children is just as prevalent as it is in adults.



However, many who have this disorder do not seek treatment because of the negative connotations that are associated with mental health illnesses. It is one of the disorders of the mental health world that can be treated if just given the chance.



Many people do not understand exactly what it is. A depressive disorder is an “illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts” according to the NIMH. It affects everything about a person.



Every aspect of their life is invaded from the way they eat and sleep to the functions of how they think. Clinical depression is an illness that will not go away on its own. People with it need to understand that they cannot just will this away. Without treatment, a person can remain ill for years, and this can affect their life dramatically.



Several ways are available to help with treating it. Herbal remedies, medications, and psychotherapies are a few of the resources that medical professionals have when deciding on a treatment plan for a person diagnosed with it.



The most prevalent method doctors usually help someone who is diagnosed with clinical depression is to prescribe an antidepressant. Various types are on the market, and if taken correctly can help to reduce the feelings that are associated with depression stress.



Another thing that people with it must do in order to get better is to talk about what is going on in their life. This is called psychotherapy, and it is usually performed with a psychiatrist or psychologist.



These medical professionals are trained in great detail in order to help a person cope with what is going on. One thing to remember is that medication alone is not the answer. Unfortunately, a magic pill does not exist for it. But facing one’s demons along with medication can make the difference.



Depression is a real illness that is treatable if only a person will seek the help they so desperately need. Family and loved ones are also affected when a person has it.



If people will become educated about the signs and symptoms that accompany this disease, maybe human suffering can be alleviated. If a family member sees that someone is depressed, they should step in and help that person get treatment.



It is not something to be ashamed of. It requires real help that is so readily available if only a person will ask for it.

]]> http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/do-you-understand-the-depression-illness/feed/ 0 DLPA: The Bodies Mood Elevating And Pain Relieving Amino Acid http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/dlpa-the-bodies-mood-elevating-and-pain-relieving-amino-acid/ http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/dlpa-the-bodies-mood-elevating-and-pain-relieving-amino-acid/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:38:01 +0000 admin http://blog.livehealthcom.net/2009/11/dlpa-the-bodies-mood-elevating-and-pain-relieving-amino-acid/ DLPA is a remarkable supplement which may be ideal for those suffering from chronic pain of many kinds as well as depression. DLPA (DL-phenylalanine) is available without prescription at health food stores and some pharmacies around the world. Phenylalanine is structurally related to dopamine, adrenaline, and L-tyrosine essential »»]]> DLPA is a remarkable supplement which may be ideal for those suffering from chronic pain of many kinds as well as depression. DLPA (DL-phenylalanine) is available without prescription at health food stores and some pharmacies around the world. Phenylalanine is structurally related to dopamine, adrenaline, and L-tyrosine essential amino acids and hormones of the body. DL-Phenylalanine is labeled as a nutritional supplement which has impressive anti-depressant activity.



Recently, DL-phenylalanine has been getting attention throughout the United States for its ability to reduce chronic pain and depression. What if, instead of pumping drugs into our bodies to relieve pain, we could use the natural substances that have zero side effects? DLPA has been found to be most useful in these areas. Chronic pain might include back pain, arthritis, pain due to diseases such as cancer, and, headache pain. Studies conducted on this amino acid have shown that it effectively blocks arthritis pain and joint inflammation in many patients.



The essential amino acid DL-Phenylalanine is a natural compound that protects against the breakdown of enkephalins, a neurotransmitter that act as your body’s own pain reducer. Phenylalanine comes in two forms which are mirror images of each other L-phenylalanine which has a nutritional value, and D-phenylalanine which has pain killing and depression alleviating value which is attributed to its ability to block the breakdown of enkephalins, the brains natural pain killer neurotransmitter.



Phenylalanine is not the sweetener Aspartame but in its natural form, is an essential amino acid of tremendous nutritional importance. Phenylalanine is one of the amino acids which the body cannot manufacture itself, but must acquire from food; most vegetarians are low in this amino acid due to the lack of meat consumption.



Exercise can also help release the body’s natural painkillers such as endorphins. Many herbs on the market have demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties like turmeric and boswellia which greatest affect on the body to promote a healthy inflammation response and reduce pain. DLPA also helps relieve discomfort by prolonging the activity of enkephalins, the body’s own pain-blocking process. A combination of turmeric, Boswellia, and DLPA can yield an impressive pain relieving response in the body that rivals even prescription drugs.



As discussed earlier L-phenylalanine is associated with elevated levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, which may alleviate symptoms of depression, and D-phenylalanine works to block pain signals. DL-Phenylalanine is also involved in the release of (PEA), phenyl ethylamine, a neurotransmitter closely related to norepinephrine (adrenaline), and which can sensitize endorphin receptors to endorphins, and aids in the relief of depression and the regulation of mood as well as pain.



DLPA is also effective in lessening cravings like hunger or smoking as well as lessen irritability. Phenylalanine activity is enhanced by additional Vitamin B 6, especially in studies on depression. The D-form of phenylalanine cannot be converted to tyrosine, but it can be converted to another compound called phenyl ethylamine which may have effects in elevating mood, treating depression and altering pain sensation.



DLPA also helps the body release serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, and when it’s low it may leave you with a bad mood, poor concentration, and a headache. Serotonin is our natural mood stabilizer, sleep promoter, and mind-focusing chemical if we have enough of all four, our emotions are stable.



Drugs like Prozac are called serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) because they keep whatever serotonin we have active. Before there were SSRI’s, the amino acid L-tryptophan was commonly used to increase serotonin levels. Vitamin B6 is the cofactor for enzymes that convert L-tryptophan to serotonin and L-tyrosine to adrenaline. So, a person who has a functional deficiency in serotonin could experience depression. Taking tryptophan can help those who are on drugs like Prozac or those who are depressed.



In conclusion, Phenylalanine can in fact aid in depression and pain management naturally. It is found naturally in foods such as eggs, milk, and bananas. Phenylalanine is also found in foods that are high in protein, such as beef, chicken, legumes, soy, whole grains, and nuts. Phenylalanine is known to be the antagonist of tryptophan and then serotonin in the body. Phenylalanine is one of the essential amino acids, meaning that everybody must get it from their diet and if you are not then supplementation of this vital amino acid is imperative.

]]> http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/dlpa-the-bodies-mood-elevating-and-pain-relieving-amino-acid/feed/ 0 An Overview Of The Different Categories Of Anxiety Depression http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/an-overview-of-the-different-categories-of-anxiety-depression/ http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/an-overview-of-the-different-categories-of-anxiety-depression/#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:09:02 +0000 admin http://blog.livehealthcom.net/2009/11/an-overview-of-the-different-categories-of-anxiety-depression/ Anxiety depression is a serious mental illness that affects millions of people everyday. People who experience an anxiety disorder have lives that are filled with overwhelming anxiety and fear. Brief anxiety can be caused by a stressful event such as doing business presentations, having a first date, or giving an important »»]]> Anxiety depression is a serious mental illness that affects millions of people everyday. People who experience an anxiety disorder have lives that are filled with overwhelming anxiety and fear.



Brief anxiety can be caused by a stressful event such as doing business presentations, having a first date, or giving an important speech. This depression, however, is chronic and will get progressively worse if left untreated.



Many different kinds of anxiety depression exist, and each one can cause irrational fear and dread in a person.



One form of such depression that affects roughly 2.4 million adults every day is the panic disorder. A panic disorder is when an individual experiences feelings of terror that attack suddenly and repeatedly with no warning.



A person can experience physical sensations such as an increased heart rate and the body may break out into a sweat. A panic disorder is one of the most treatable forms of anxiety that a person can have.



With the right medications and planned psychotherapy, an individual can lead a normal life without the fear of having a panic attack.



Obsessive compulsive disorder is a form of anxiety depression that can be very simple or can go to extremes. With OCD as many people call it, a person has continuous obsessions that can be disturbing thoughts or behaviors.



In order to cope with these obsessions, an individual must do certain rituals called compulsions. Pleasure is not derived from doing these rituals. However, people receive relief to the anxiety that will turn into a monster if the rituals are not done.



This is one of the anxiety depression categories that can be treated with medication if it is beginning to take over a person’s life, but so many people fail to realize that they have a mental illness with OCD.



No matter what type of anxiety depression a person is experiencing, treatment is available. With both the panic disorder and the obsessive compulsive disorder, carefully planned psychotherapy and medication can ease the worries that plague the person experiencing these life altering disorders.



Anxiety and depression together are a hard matter to deal will. Fears and rituals can ruin a person’s life. This depression is, however, a treatable condition if a person will just accept what is happening and not shrug it off. Human suffering due to any form of depression is really unnecessary.



Help is available for those who desire to make their lives more manageable. If a person who is sick will not get help, then the family or friends need to take over.

]]> http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/an-overview-of-the-different-categories-of-anxiety-depression/feed/ 0 The Telltale Signs of Manic Depressive Disorder http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/the-telltale-signs-of-manic-depressive-disorder/ http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/the-telltale-signs-of-manic-depressive-disorder/#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:39:01 +0000 admin http://blog.livehealthcom.net/2009/10/the-telltale-signs-of-manic-depressive-disorder/ Manic depression is a critical mental condition that can leave someone depressed, lonely, and unable to keep up a career. These conditions can bring about serious outcomes in a person’s existence. That’s how come it’s so crucial to care for this health problem as soon as you can. Although treating »»]]> Manic depression is a critical mental condition that can leave someone depressed, lonely, and unable to keep up a career. These conditions can bring about serious outcomes in a person’s existence. That’s how come it’s so crucial to care for this health problem as soon as you can. Although treating the condition can be complicated if you do not even realize that you have it.

Similar to any medical issue, there are indications of manic depressive disorder. Regrettably, these warning signs are challenging to spot in some people since the condition is not entirely depressive behavior. Rather, there are occasions when somebody with this health issue will experience enormous pleasure and gladness, and there might be occasions where their sense of despondency is extreme and overpowering.

However if you are familiar with which indicators to watch out for, you can definitely spot an individual with this illness, or see it in yourself. The following are a few of the more familiar symptoms of this major mental disorder.

Individuals with manic depressive disorder often progress from mood to mood as if they were giving a person a greeting. If you are acquainted with somebody who is frequently cheerful one instant, and then detached or low the next, this mental disease may be the reason. The highs are very high and the lows are very low. In the course of just one chat, someone with this illness may well experience a gauntlet of emotions and moods. This volatility is why friends and family normally have a hard time having a discussion with a person who suffers from this health problem.

One more symptom to be alert for is a failure to maintain a normal sleep schedule. There could be situations when an individual sleeps for many hours in a row, whereas at other times the individual doesn’t sleep for several days consecutively. This failure to keep up a regular sleep schedule is very typical for individuals with this form of depression. Furthermore, their sleeping needs can change in an instant.

If you suffer from manic depression, you may have a hard time dealing with your impulses. As soon as you get a thought in your head, then you can feel like you have to do something about it without delay. This is why too many individuals with this disorder leave school or switch jobs suddenly and inexplicably. Many of them may not even be able to preserve steady friendships or make long term plans that they are able to stay with.

]]> http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/the-telltale-signs-of-manic-depressive-disorder/feed/ 0 Do You Know The Types Of Depression Medication? http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/do-you-know-the-types-of-depression-medication/ http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/do-you-know-the-types-of-depression-medication/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:29:00 +0000 admin http://blog.livehealthcom.net/2009/10/do-you-know-the-types-of-depression-medication/ Depression medication can help a person who is dealing with a depressive disorder. Doctors have access to many different drugs, but they all fall into three main categories. These categories are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclics, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Depending on the doctor and the situation, one drug »»]]> Depression medication can help a person who is dealing with a depressive disorder. Doctors have access to many different drugs, but they all fall into three main categories.



These categories are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclics, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Depending on the doctor and the situation, one drug from these three categories will be chosen in order to help a person deal with depression.



One type of depression medication that doctors use is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors otherwise known as SSRIs. SSRIs are different than tricyclics and MAOIs because they work only on the neurotransmitter serotonin.



These types of antidepressants also have fewer lingering effects than the other types of drugs used for treatment for this mental illness. Some well known SSRI’s that are used regularly include Lexapro, Celexa, Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft.



Many times when a woman is dealing with postpartum depression, these are the types of drugs that are prescribed. Side effects of SSRIs may include nausea, insomnia, headache, and dry mouth.



There is one thing to keep in mind when using depression medications within the SSRI category. It can take up to eight weeks for the full effects of the medication to be felt. They do not work overnight, but they do work if given the chance and are taken regularly.



Another kind of depression medication that is used frequently is the tricyclic group of antidepressants. Tricyclics have been around for a long time and have been known to help many a person who is dealing with depression.



Tricyclics work with various body chemicals that include the serotonin that the SSRIs interact with. Examples of well known tricyclics include Norpramin and Aventyl.



The last category that it can fall under is monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs. MAOIs are like tricyclics by the way they affect the body. MAOIs interact with various body chemicals along with serotonin.



MAOIs are less commonly used out of the three categories of depression medication. One reason that MAOIs are not used as frequently is because of the side effects.



For example, MAOIs such as Nardil and Parnate can cause weakness, dizziness, and tremors. MAOIs are also likely to interact in a negative way with over the counter medication such as Aleve.



Several different over the counter drugs have warnings on their labels advising people to not mix their MAOIs with the over the counter medication.



Various types of depression medication are used quite often to help alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Because the rate of depression is rising, doctors are prescribing more and more antidepressants.



A person should be well aware of the various side effects and warnings about mixing medications that accompany these antidepressants. It can greatly help a person to get better if taken as prescribed.

]]> http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/do-you-know-the-types-of-depression-medication/feed/ 0 Poetry Heals PTSD Just like God’s Gourd for Jonah http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/poetry-heals-ptsd-just-like-gods-gourd-for-jonah/ http://blog.livehealthcom.net/depression/poetry-heals-ptsd-just-like-gods-gourd-for-jonah/#comments Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:20:01 +0000 admin http://blog.livehealthcom.net/2009/09/poetry-heals-ptsd-just-like-gods-gourd-for-jonah/ Just as in all things God knows how much each man, woman, and child can take when it comes to bearing grief and sorrow. What I would like to do is tell you how He heals through inspired poetry. Bear with me as I make an analogy to »»]]> Just as in all things God knows how much each man, woman, and child can take when it comes to bearing grief and sorrow. What I would like to do is tell you how He heals through inspired poetry. Bear with me as I make an analogy to the healing of Jonah’s depression through the precious gourd in Jonah 4:7-11.



It was only at Jonah’s breaking point when he praised the Lord and vowed to do His will (seeing that there was a plan for him that he could not escape.) If I may stretch this a little further to include those persons facing addictions to drugs, alcohol, shopping, gambling, sex, etc. Vastly the above are signals to not being able to cope with their trauma, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is only at the point of surrendering to a Higher Power, as in Jesus Christ, are they (we) able to pick up our cross and move forward. The direction is shown no longer with self-medicating through whatever self-punishing behavior, but with a new way of thinking!



If I may continue to use Jonah’s revelation of the gourd, you may contemplate that the gourd was a tool for relieving Jonah’s depression. Why was Jonah depressed? He was in a traumatic life situation that he was not in control of what was happening to him. Just as those who experience PTSD. God realized that He needed to step in for Jonah as he could not hold in anymore mental distress. It was this Celestial Intervention that comes in the nick of time, through no power but of the Divine. Even though this did not take 10 years to happen (as in the time it usually takes to break down from PTSD) the healing started when the gourd was provided.



Poetry is the tool of Divine Intervention that directly coincides with the gourd. It is an emotional release of blocked feelings that are opened up from the mind’s box of secrets. These secrets were kept veiled (not only from the victim’s mind) but hidden from most of mankind. When there is a combination of surrendering oneself to your Higher Power and using prayer, praise, and contemplation, inspired poetry becomes the mind and soul’s healing revelation!


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