Ways to Overcome Depression - Your Options in Conquering Depression

You may have heard about depression many times and indeed, depression is common and most often, people with this disorder do not seek treatment. If you are one of those suffering from depression, it is important to note that there are ways to overcome depression and you can actually seek treatment.

You have to understand that depression is more than just being down and sad. It can include symptoms like loss of interest in the things that you use to enjoy and may include difficulties of sleeping, loss of energy as well as weight loss. Not only that, it may also include thoughts of death or committing suicide, thus it is important for you to not wait for depression to destroy your life before seeking treatment.

Exercising your mind and body

Indeed, your thoughts, your emotions as well as your physical self will be drained with depression and finding ways to overcome depression as early as possible can be a wise move. You may start with some simple steps like having regular exercise to help you ease off the tension in your body. Meditation is also a good way to help you learn proper breathing and learning how to relax. It will also help you empty your mind and make you stay calmer.

Finding support groups

Finding support groups, from families, friends, to people suffering from the same disorder is also one of the good ways to overcome depression and manage its effects in your life. Talking about your disorder with people going through the same problem will also help you find new strength in dealing with the symptoms of depression.

Medical treatment

Medical treatment for depression often involves antidepressant medications, SSRIs and some anti-anxiety medications, although experts often recommend getting therapies together with medications and not just rely on drugs itself to successfully fight depression.

Psychotherapy and NLP

One of the most effective ways to overcome depression is through psychotherapy. In fact, psychotherapy is considered the most effective treatment for depression and other anxiety disorders and problems. Although there are many psychotherapy techniques used in treating depression, addiction and anxiety disorders, NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming is found to have quick results when it comes to overcoming depression. NLP also allows you to overcome depression without having to take drugs and of course, a much healthier way to combat this disorder.

Not only does NLP help you fight your depression but also helps you in improving your life from your career, to interpersonal relationships and in gaining more self-confidence and self-esteem. Aside from depression, it also helps you overcome other hard to break habits as well as fears and phobias.

Aside from NLP, hypnotherapy as well as cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT are also other effective techniques that are used in overcoming depression, anxiety disorders as well as treating phobias and fears.

Indeed, you can find ways to overcome depression and put an end to this disorder, for as long as you seek help and if you will allow yourself to be completely healed from this devastating disorder. You just have to take that first step to healing and that is seeking help.

Relaxation Techniques For Panic Attacks - 3 Natural Ways of Getting Over Panic Attacks

One of the most effective ways of getting over panic attacks is natural techniques. Whenever possible, you should try your best to find alternatives to drugs and medication treatment. Drugs and medication are not the best solutions because they are not long-term cures; they only mask your panic and anxiety temporarily. What we need to do is get to the root cause, and treat the root cause of your panic.

There are many relaxation techniques for panic attacks that will reduce your panic and anxiety and the actual intensity of the attacks.

I will now share with you, 3 natural ways to getting over panic attacks:

1. Deep Breathing - This is one of the simplest and best things you can do for not only your panic disorder, but for your overall well-being and health. For a few minutes each day, lie down in a comfortable spot, and take deep slow breaths in through your nose, all the way to the stomach, then exhale slowly. Breathing this way gives your body the maximum amount of oxygen possible, and it will revitalize the body and relax you. Practice this daily, and then you can do this technique if a panic attacks should strike.

2. Meditation - This leads nicely on from deep breathing. By sitting quietly, eyes closed for 5 minutes daily, relaxed and focussed on your breathing, you will be able to take your focus away from panic and anxiety. This will take practice, but stick with it because if you ever experience an attacks coming along, you will find it easier with your breathing and ability to shift your thoughts away from the attack, reducing its intensity by a huge margin.

3. Visualization - This again leads nicely on from meditation. While you meditate, try to picture a pleasant memory, or a pleasant future even you would like to experience. This will get you into a positive state of mind, and then, every time a panic attack may occur, you just need to remember this picture. This alone will put you if a very positive state of mind, thus reducing the chances and intensity of panic disorder.

You can use each of these techniques individually, or pick which one resonates with you best. For best results, start on the deep breathing, slowly integrate meditation, and then introduce visualization. If you do this daily, not only will you be improving your health, you will be reducing the chances of a panic attack striking, and even if one does strike, you will have the tools to stop it there and then.

Social Phobia Anxiety - Treatments For Panic Attacks

Have you seen a person experiencing a panic attack? If not, they are those who are highly anxious, agitated, fearful, uncertain and out of control. They are unable to stay in one position and might burst our shouting and crying out loud. They don't know how to handle the situation and their emotions. They feel they are pressured and in great stress. In summary, panic attack is a psychological response to physiologic and even psychological stressors. The attack usually starts from mild anxiety and then progresses to panic.

What are the treatments for panic attacks? These are the typical query that you might have in mind so as to gear yourself with focus and right attitude and prevent having the attack.

• Stress Management

It is much better to have a fresh mind before dealing with any demanding situations. It's hard to fill your brain with additional problems when it's already overloaded. Stress must be managed accordingly to prevent panic since it teaches you how to react to life situations. It comes in different forms like diversional and leisure activities. Going to places that you never visited or going to spots that you feel relaxed will surely help. Enjoying the weekend away from work will also boost a positive mind. Take time to enjoy some time for yourself to get some fresh air. It may seem unclear but the effects are visible if you get to compare the decision of a stressed individual to someone who gets to embrace stress management activities.

• Exploration of Feelings

We tend to panic if we don't know what to do and where to go. However, speaking our concerns will help lessen the attack since we hear opinions of other people. We are not pressured to rely on our sole decision if we have someone to ask for help. Exploration of feelings is very effective in controlling panic attacks since you can now speak out what makes you panic and what runs in your mind. You can either reveal concerns with family members or psychologist then ask for positive ways on how to deal with your problems.

• Environmental Limits

In order to control panic attacks, a soothing environment is much preferred. Since you need to stay calm and relaxed, it is best that you are in a quiet, dim and tranquil environment. It is very ironic to bring someone having an attack in a room filled with rock music and very well lighted. As much as possible, try to promote an environment that will enhance sleep and relaxation then let the person assume a comfortable position.

• Medical Approach

Above tips are very helpful but when non pharmacologic methods are ineffective, medications is one of the best options to take. It provides a rapid effect but then patients must not rely to these drugs since it may cause dependence and/or drug tolerance.

Panic Attack Medications - Are They Right For You?

Beat the Stress with Panic Attack Medications?

Although most of us might think that panic attacks only happen to a few people, they are actually quite common and can happen to anyone. While most of us can get frightened or scared because of the intensity of the symptoms of attacks, like increased heart rate, nausea and chills, it's easy for us to calm down without the need for panic attack medications. All we need to do sometimes is relax or let the stress out through exercise or yoga.

There are times, though, when anxiety attacks escalate in intensity and frequency and start becoming harmful to ourselves and our loved ones. When this happens, these attacks can turn into serious disorders and it's advisable to seek professional help if you start experiencing panic attacks more often and with no reason. Specialists and doctors can help alleviate the symptoms and intensity of attacks through therapy and panic attack medications.

Various medications can be prescribed to anxiety disorder sufferers to help them cope with their attacks. These drugs affect the brain to eliminate anxiety attacks altogether or to make the symptoms of attacks easier to handle. Below are three of the most popular medications that specialists prescribe to anxiety disorder patients.

1. Tricyclic Anti-depressants (TCAs). Panic attack medications work by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters (or chemicals such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine) send signals for us to be able to move, make decisions and feel anger, joy, pain and stress. When a neurotransmitter sends its signal, it gets reabsorbed and reused (medically known as "reuptake"). Sometimes, though, there is an imbalance in the levels of these chemicals and we may experience depression or anxiety attacks. TCAs keep certain chemicals from being reuptaken, so that the brain maintains an ample amount of these neurotransmitters to stabilize a person's mood and to decrease anxiety. While TCAs help ease stress and anxiety, they can also cause dry mouth, dizziness and constipation.

2. Benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines can provide quick, instant relief from the symptoms of panic attacks and can be taken orally or injected. These drugs can be addictive, so they shouldn't be taken everyday. Benzodiazepines have a calming effect, even causing drowsiness in some people. They can also cause stomach upsets, blurred vision, confusion and weakness as side effects.

3. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). This type of medication works the same way as benzodiazepines and TCAs. With a different chemical structure, SSRIs have fewer side effects and are considered safer, thus becoming the most common panic attack medications prescribed to anxiety disorder sufferers around the world. They ease the complications and symptoms of depression, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders and even premenstrual syndrome. The reported side effects of SSRIs include headaches, joint pains, a decrease in sexual drive, nausea and diarrhea.

It can be easy for most of us to overcome an anxiety attack but it can become a serious disorder for those who experience panic attacks more often and with greater intensity. There is help available, for anxiety disorder sufferers, such as therapy and medication, to help them live normal, stress-free lives.

Top 10 Quotes for 2010

1. Pay attention to your dreams – God’s angels often speak directly to our hearts when we are asleep. – Eileen Elias Freeman

2. Happiness is not a matter of events; it depends upon the tides of the mind. – Alice Meynell

3. Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving.- Dale Carnegie

4. When small men begin to cast big shadows, it means that the sun is about to set. – Lyn Yutang

5. It is wise to direct your anger towards problems – not people; to focus your energies on answers – not excuses. – William Ward

6. I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works. – Oscar Wilde

7. Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action. – Walter Anderson

8. The secret to success is constancy to purpose. – Benjamin Disraeli

9. Winners lose much more often than losers. So if you keep losing but you’re still trying, keep it up! You’re right on track. – Matthew Keith Groves.

10. Adversity is a fact of life. It can’t be controlled. What we can control is how we react to it. – Unknown

Source: Purethoughts