| Depression and its effect on our stress levels can | | | | Loved and connected to your partner? |
| have a huge impact on our lives.When I think back | | | | Respected? |
| over the times of extreme stress and anxiety over | | | | Do you feel you belong - either in your relationship, at |
| the last few years, I find I never really would have | | | | work or with friends, or in your community? |
| classed myself as depressed. However, at times, the | | | | Are you stimulated and challenged in your life? |
| thought of just not being part of this life became quite | | | | Does your life have purpose? |
| attractive. I often wanted to just peacefully slip away. | | | | IT IS VITAL TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON |
| I'm sure that this was a symptom, within myself of a | | | | AS POSSIBLE TO GET A PROPER |
| mild form of depression.As life sorted itself out, slowly | | | | ASSESSMENT.Here are some options available to |
| those times of thinking like that started to diminish. It is | | | | you to help you and I have put some in the form of |
| only when I look back at how I felt that I realise how | | | | FAQ's.Will I be put on antidepressants? |
| thinking like this was part of my life then.What is | | | | The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence |
| depression?Depression, like stress and anxieties, | | | | ( the organisation which recommends prescribing |
| results from living our lives in a way in which we are | | | | guidelines to doctors) has recently said that the risks of |
| not designed to live. We function best when we can | | | | taking anti depressents for someone with mild |
| slowly evolve and thrive in our environment.The last | | | | depression outweigh the advantages. You may not |
| 100 years has meant we have been thrust headfirst | | | | therefore be prescribed them.If you want to know |
| into a chaotic and very fast lifestyle. We haven't been | | | | some of the risks of these medications they are: |
| given the luxury of adapting into our lifestyles slowly | | | | Nausea |
| and calmly - going at our own pace. It is estimated that | | | | Lack of libido |
| worldwide over 300 million people may be suffering | | | | Anxiety |
| from depression. That means an awful lot of unhappy | | | | Abdominal pain |
| people, on an awful lot of medication, costing a huge | | | | They sometimes don't work in approx 30-50% of |
| amount of money and resources.How can we get | | | | patients |
| help? - we need to learn more about the causes, | | | | There is a holistic approach which can be divided into |
| symptoms and prevention and cure of | | | | Physical and Emotional/Lifestyle changes.Here are |
| depression.Here are some signs you may recognise: | | | | some guidelinesPHYSICAL |
| Do you? | | | | |
| Wake up feeling exhausted? | | | | De toxifyChange to a healthy, mood enhancing |
| Feel miserable most of the time? | | | | dietEat 3 meals a day plus 2 snacksEat a protein |
| Constantly worry - about anything and everything | | | | source with every meal: eggs, nuts, seeds, fish, lentils, |
| Lack motivation - even of things you used to love | | | | beans.Eat 4 portions of leafy green vegetables every |
| doing? | | | | dayTake a multivitamin-mineral supplementRaise |
| What is your lifestyle like? | | | | neurotransmitter chemical levels - ie. serotonin, the |
| Do you work long hours? | | | | happy chemical and dopamin the motivation chemical. |
| Have you got large debts? | | | | Take these as supplements as 5-HTP (50mg to |
| Do you abuse your body with drugs? nicotine? | | | | 100mg twice daily) and l-tyrosine 500mg three times |
| alcohol?caffeine? | | | | daily. Also include Omega-3 essential fatty acids into |
| Are you a couch potato? | | | | your diet in the form of mackerel, salmon, sardines and |
| Do you ever really relax and have a time of peace in | | | | herrings or take in supplement formExercise! get 30 |
| your life? | | | | minutes of exercise 3 - 5 times per week. Make sure |
| Are you going through a divorce or messy relationship | | | | you enjoy it, and when you're doing it make sure your |
| breakdown? | | | | mind is on your exercise and not your problems. By |
| Do you feel part of a community - do you know/get | | | | concentrating "externally" you are lessening the impact |
| on well with your neighbours? | | | | of your internal gremlins - but only whilst you are doing |
| Do you eat a mainly processed food diet? | | | | the exercise! |
| Are you physically suffering from any of these | | | | EMOTIONAL/LIFESTYLEThe key to success over |
| problems? | | | | depression is to ensure that the life you lead nourishes |
| Lack of sleep? | | | | a balanced and healthy way of life for you. One in |
| Food intolerances? | | | | which you can grow emotionally and psychologically |
| Too many toxins in your body? (through an unhealthy | | | | and one in which you use your abilities to gain fulfillment |
| diet) | | | | and improved mental health.If you are balanced and |
| Too much sugar? | | | | happy in your life then you have the tools to deal with |
| An imbalance or lack of vitamins, minerals, fatty acid | | | | stressful and anxious situations as they arise. The |
| levels from your diet? | | | | effect will not be long term because you have the |
| Lack of exercise? | | | | resources to combat the depressing situation.This is a |
| Lack of sunshine and adequate outdoor light | | | | very important time for you to deal with your |
| exposure? | | | | emotional/lifestyle challenges and it is essential that you |
| Co-existing illnesses - or perhaps you deal with one | | | | get yourself the most valuable help.This is an extract |
| condition and immediately another sets in? | | | | from my website which covers many aspects of |
| How do you feel emotionally? Do you feel? | | | | stress and how it affects our lives.It is based on my |
| Do you feel appreciated? | | | | own experiences, which I share with you. I would like |
| Are you in charge of your life? | | | | the site to expand and include helpful experiences you |
| Safe and secure? | | | | may like to share with myself and others. |