Showing posts with label depression. Show all posts
Showing posts with label depression. Show all posts

Monday, June 2, 2014

Making Your Way Through The Murky Waters Of Depression


When you are suffering from depression, it can truly feel like the end of the world. You may not realize that there are many things you can do in your everyday life to help ease some of the symptoms of depression. This article will give you some tips to help you get started.

Don't let your depression spiral out of control. Obsessing about negative things can also increase feelings of inadequacy. Try to remain upbeat. and divert the attention of those around you to a more positive outlook as well.

Depression, which can be like a fog that isolates you from the rest of the world, is hard to lift and keep away by yourself. Getting supportive relationships can play a major role in beginning to defeat depression. Even though the nature of depression can make you want to retreat from others, remind yourself that your trusted friends and family members want to help. They can help lead you through this tough time in your life.

Try to avoid "glass half empty" types of people. If you suffer from depression than it is likely that you already have a pessimistic outlook on life and by hanging out with other people like this, you will only feed into your own negative thoughts. Focus on finding people with high spirits.

Never apply the crazy label to yourself. First of all it is completely inaccurate but secondly it will only cause you to fall further and further into a state of despair. Avoid giving yourself any labels at all and try your best to just focus on being the best you possibly can.

When you are suffering from depression it can feel like the end of the world. One of the main symptoms of depression is hopelessness. Apply the tips from this article into your daily life, and it should help to ease some of your depression symptoms.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Alcoholism, Depression and Self-Medication

 

I spent the majority of my 30's as a severe alcoholic. I was deep in the midst of alcoholism for over 10 years. I grew up in the 1970's and early 80's, when Alcoholics Anonymous was gaining popularity and treatment centers were beginning to use AA's 12 step program as model.

 Prior to that, alcoholics had to quit on their own or go to sanitarium to "dry out". Some were even subjected to electrical shock therapy. It is no small wonder that most alcoholics back then chose to try to quit on their own without medical help and only about 10% were able to achieve sobriety.

Fortunately, things have greatly advanced since then and there are inpatient and outpatient programs for alcoholics that can provide the medical supervision needed during withdrawal along with the therapy and coping skills that alcoholics need to succeed after detox. In most cases, alcoholism is simply a coverup for a deeper problem and that deeper problem needs to be identified and dealt with truly help the alcoholic learn to live a life without self medication their issues with alcohol.

But because I had grown up in a time when medical treatment and for alcoholism was so drastic, I chose to try to quit "the right way", without drugs or inpatient treatment. I gave it my best tried and ultimately failed. I was trapped in a 10 year downward spiral and it caused major issues in my family, caused me to lose multiple jobs and lose out on so much in life.

I finally turned to a counselor named Beth who was experienced in alcoholism. She was a recovering alcoholic who won her battle with alcohol in the 1960's, had gone on to college and earned her master's degree for psychology and counseling. I met with her a few times and she decided that referring me to a psychiatrist to get medication for depression would help. She felt untreated depression was a major factor in life and that I turned to alcohol to self-medicate to avoid the pain of chronic depression.

I was reluctant to take medication but Beth pointed that I had already tried to self medicate with alcohol for 10 years with no success. It was obvious that I needed to at least give it a try. I was given Prozac and was pleasantly surprised that I was feel stronger and better with each week that passed. Then came the day, when I went to see Beth. I was feeling good and it must have been shining through. She said something that I will never forget. She told me "Welcome back to real life".

Alcohol Addiction Can Be Conquered!
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Laguna Beach , Ca 92651
(888) 632-7135

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Saturday, April 20, 2013

Depression Types Which Are Unique To Men and Women

Depression is a mental illness that effects many people. It knows no race, age, religion, it is not biased, it can effect anyone. Sometimes it's hard to reach out for help, but there are many treatment options available to treat depression. This article will give you some tips for finding a treatment that is right for you.

If you are dealing with depression and are not on any other medications, discuss St. Johns Wart with your doctor. St. Johns Wart is an herbal remedy that has proven effective against depression in some clinical studies. It is mild and non-addictive, so quite safe to use. It should not be mixed with some other medications though, so talking to your doctor first is essential.

Know the symptoms of post-partum depression, and make sure that your partner does, too. While some "baby blues" are normal after giving birth, post-partum depression is a serious, yet common illness that can benefit greatly from professional help. Your partner can help you watch for signs that you need some help, as you may not be able to see the situation clearly yourself.

If depression has entered your life, work on your personal problems to remove it. Money problems, relationship problems, work problems, and other problems can cause you to feel depressed. Getting them off your "list" might just provide the relief you are looking for. Set concrete goals and stick to them. Even the process of just taking steps to make these problems go away can prove beneficial.

As stated at the beginning of this article, depression affects many people. It is sometimes hard to reach out and seek treatment because there are so many different options available. Hopefully this article has given you some great tips for finding a treatment option that will work for you.