People with depression are simply not able to carry on their lives normally. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. When these symptoms become very intense, they start interfering with one’s ability to normally carry out even the daily chores. The person feels unable to do anything about it; other people need to help him out of this depressive situation. Appropriate treatment is required to help most people who suffer from depression.

Symptoms:

The symptoms that help identify depression include:

1) Constant feelings of sadness, irritability.

2) Feeling exhausted most of the time, despite lack of activity.

3) Decreased interest social activities.

4) Significant weight change.

5) A change in sleeping pattern, such as difficulty sleeping or early morning awakening.

6) Lack of confidence.

7) Spends a lot of time thinking about what has gone wrong or what will go wrong.

8) Feelings of worthlessness or guilt.

9) Physical pain, which has no apparent physical

10) Thoughts of suicide or death  Read more...

Research scientists and personal development gurus have been using personality typing as a tool for evaluation in the areas of growth and development. The belief is that by learning the theories of personality type the individual can have a rewarding experience as a tool for discovery, as opposed to a method for putting people into boxes or making excuses for behavior. When people consider personality types most individuals think first of the Myers Briggs personality indicator types which was originally designed by a mother-daughter team based on the well-known research of psychologist Carl Jung.

Sometimes people distinguish the difference between personality types and personality traits. Personality traits are a small group of behavioral tendencies and types are believed to involve a qualitative difference between people. For instance, having an introverted personality or an extroverted personality are two fundamentally different types of personality.

Another well-known example of personality typing is the work done by researchers which identified “type A” personalities that appeared to be more impatient and hostile and also at more risk for heart attacks. Interestingly, this particular theory has not held up using empirical research.  Read more...

Basil (P, SS) Eases mental fatigue, stimulates poor memory and enhances alterness. beneficial as a digestive aid. relieves headache pain

Bergamot (SS, S) Great for nervous/depressed emotions. antiseptic for skin conditions regulates appetiteassists convalescence

Cedar, Himalayan (P, SS) A very calming oileases Bronchitis and respiratory ailmentscombats cellulite

Chamomile, Roman Aids skin conditions eases Migrainesrelieves Insomnia..soothing..anti-inflammatory use as a compress for ear-aches

Clary Sage (P) Avoid if Epileptic avoid alcohol, it may exaggerate the effects Produces vivid dreams eases Migraines balances female hormones.eases menstrual discomfort /PMS/ Menopause retards excessive Perspiration

Eucalyptus (P) Stimulatinganti-viral.. eases respiratory ailmentssoothes Sore Muscles and sunburn pain anti-bacterial properties inhibit spread of infection when used in a Diffuser

Frankincense Meditative.. tightens and tones skin anti-aging.. stimulates cell regeneration sooths and calms nerves treats Urinary Tract Infection.. anti-bacterial

Geranium, Rose Regenerates and rejujinates skin cells and tissue.. anti-cellulite.eases stress.. balances hormone problems during Menopause..relieves PMS

Ginger (SS) Relief from Arthritis pain, sprians, muscle aches and pains keeps sport muscles supple eases Motion Sickness, hangovers, jet lag sexual tonic  Read more...

A lot of people who are exerting too much of their brain power usually exhaust not only their physical strength when engaging in various multi-tasking activities, they also tend to over extend their brains up to the point when it plainly needs some good old time for relaxation. A lot of busy people who seem to cannot fathom the idea of relaxing and taking time of from work, as well as their worries, tend to actually start having nervous breakdowns, anxiety depression and all sorts of mental illnesses that can cause a person’s sanity to go haywire, fortunately, if you’re one of those poor unfortunate ones who are unable to distress and is constantly worried and fussing over things, there are actually available cures and various treatments for treating anxiety depression.  Read more...

Pain is a massive problem in our society, in fact it is estimated that at any given time, around one third of the population are in pain. Pain of any type is the most frequent reason for physician consultation. It is a major symptom in many medical conditions, significantly interfering with quality of life and general functioning.

Pain management is therefore an extremely important part of health care because people forced to continue living with extreme pain often become depressed and have poor treatment outcomes.

Some types of pain are still not really understood with as many as a third of cases having unknown origins.

Here are some of the things we do know:

* Pain is constant for about 20% of people.

* Back pain is the most common pain.

* Most chronic pain sufferers have had pain for at least 3 years.

* As can be expected, the incidence of pain increases with advancing age.

* Women report pain more often than men.  Read more...

When people talk about depression, they usually mean a person who is feeling down and lethargic, and who has generally lost interest in life. Most people don’t realize that there are many different types of depression a person can be suffering from, with each type often showing different symptoms.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, here is a quick overview of the most common forms of depression.

Mild/Minor Depression is the least severe form of depression. Usually the symptoms aren’t so severe that they have a major impact in the life of the sufferer, although the depression can still cause distress and disruption. Many people who are suffering from mild depression never seek treatment – they don’t believe the symptoms are severe enough.

Dysthymic Disorder is a long-term form of mild depression (lasting two or more years). Like mild depression, most sufferers never seek help as they don’t believe their symptoms are severe enough. Also like mild depression, the symptoms of dysthymic depression don’t usually have a huge impact on the sufferers day-to-day life. But when the long-term results from the depression are considered, the impact can be huge. People who suffer from dysthymic depression often can’t remember a time when they weren’t depressed.  Read more...

Emotional pain can be as bad as physical pain and often is caused by a terrible experience, such as unexpectedly losing someone you love. Depression, guilt, anxiety, fear and disappointment can all lead to emotional pain.

When you think about these painful experiences they can become worse. Constantly reliving traumatic experiences can cripple you if it is always on your mind and can affect all aspects of your life, from work to personal relationships, and more.

Children are often the victims of emotional trauma. Things that might traumatize a child include abusive parents, death of a parent or a parent leaving a kid up for adoption. Adults are usually affected by different factors such as divorce, loss of a job, being the victim of a crime or drug addiction.

These are only some of the things that can cause emotional trauma which can also be diagnosed as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. Every person is different and an event that is traumatic for one person might barely affect the next.  Read more...

Of course there are over the counter products that can help you with the bloating and temporary PMS weight gain that you experience in the week or so prior to your period. But, as you know, whenever possible, it’s preferable to go the natural route. Here are some simple, practical tips to help you steer clear of PMS weight gain the all natural way:

1. First of all, to prevent PMS weight gain, be sure to continue your regular exercise routine.

Sometimes the hormonal fluctuations that you experience during PMS can make you feel pretty crummy. And of course when you don’t feel well, it’s particularly difficult to motivate yourself to exercise. However, it is a very good idea to give yourself that extra little push to stick with your normal exercise routine for a number of reasons.  Read more...

Clinical depression is defined as ‘a persistent exaggeration of the everyday feelings that accompany sadness‘.

If you have severe depression you may experience low mood, loss of interest and pleasure as well as feelings of worthlessness and guilt. You may also experience tearfulness, poor concentration, reduced energy, reduced or increased appetite and weight, sleep problems and anxiety. You may even feel that life is not worth living, and plan or attempt suicide.

Depression can affect anyone, of any culture, age or background. About twice as many women as men seek help for depression, though this may reflect the greater readiness of women to discuss their problems.

One thing that may make it hard for doctors to recognise depression is that people with depression often complain of physical problems, commonly headaches, lethargy, stomach upsets or joint pains, rather than low mood, sometimes because these can be significant symptoms, but sometimes because they find it difficult to admit to feeling emotionally distressed for reasons they may not even be able to identify.  Read more...

It is always healthy to have a positive and good outlook on life. This means that you are forward thinking and you are not dwelling on the negative aspects in your life. Instead, you are using your energies towards thinking about and planning for the good things that are coming to you. When you are tired and stressed over situations, it is hard to keep a positive outlook on your life. This is because suddenly stress makes you feel depressed and sad. A positive outlook makes you happy and ready to face the world.

You need to keep a positive outlook on life to help you combat stress. Most people who deal well with the stresses in their lives are the ones that can look changes and situation in the face. They are not afraid to deal with these problems. They can smile and find the good things in almost any situation. This is a good way to live life and for the most part, when you know how to have a positive outlook, you can deal more effectively with stress.  Read more...

There is nothing abnormal about having days with ups and downs. Most people have a middle ground to come back to after dealing with good and bad days.

Those who suffer with Bipolar disorder (manic depression) do not have the luxury of finding a middle ground. They constantly find themselves on one end of the spectrum or the other. They can spend days to weeks feeling on top of the world only to immediately fall off a cliff and enter a depressive phase that makes it difficult to get out of bed for weeks at a time.

A manic episode can be either a minor state of elation and happiness or involve extreme ideas. For example, an extreme manic episode might cause someone to sell their house and max out their credit cards because they think they are destined to become a pharoah in Egypt.

To the person having a manic episode these ideas would seem completely attainable. Their optimistic attitude and huge reserve of energy might be contagious to those who are close to them.  Read more...

Manic depression or Bipolar depression is actually considered as one of the worst type of depression that people usually suffer from.

Characterized by sudden and extreme changes in their mood, Manic depression is said to be called as such because manic = mania refers to the ‘ups’ while depression refers to the ‘downs’.
A lot of people actually experience erratic changes in their moods, some times, these so-called mood swings may not just be caused by PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) or stress. Doctors actually have diagnosed mood swings as a common symptom of depression.

But when these so-called mood swings have gone to utmost absurdity, from getting irked even by the littlest or simplest of thins like not getting your favorite ice cream flavor, this may not be just a sign of brattiness, but when getting irked means you’ll cuss and swear on the ice cream vendor and throw absurd tantrums, this may already be the start of Manic depression.The so-called ‘manic’ or ‘ups’ in Manic depression is described as to be the times when a person suffering from Manic depression may experience overly high periods, consisting of heightened energy, a sudden outburst of euphoric mood, extreme irritability, thoughts racing as well as aggressive behavior.  Read more...

by Susan Stewart

Most people work a 40 hour week so we can estimate that we typically spend about 2,000 hours at work each year. And many people work even more than this. Yet we often dont take the time to ensure that our job setting is a pleasant place to be. Our jobs are often very stressful and stress is a known trigger for many common ailments and diseases.

Many studies have been done on the relationship between job stress and a variety of ailments. Mood and sleep disturbances, upset stomach, Headaches and disturbed relationships with family and friends are examples of stress related problems that are quick to develop.

Before you think about stress reduction, start by identifying the particular stresses in your work and the effect they have on you. What, specifically, is it about your work situation that makes you feel anxious, angry, frustrated, burned out, depressed, etc? Do you have a difficult boss or co-worker? Do you have too much work and not enough time to do it? When you come up with your list of stressors, address them one at a time.  Read more...

By Susan Stewart

A lot of scientific research is being done on aromatherapy and the effects it has on our body, mind and emotions. However, hard research supporting the healing power is limited. I often see the effect that different smells have on people. It is very interesting to watch someone inhale a fragrance deeply and say Oh, that smells so good!?And then two minutes later another person inhales the same fragrance and their response is Oh, that stinks!?as they remove the scent quickly away from their nose.

However, it is not simply the aroma that is important, but also the chemical interaction between the essential oils and the body and the physical changes brought about. Each essential oil has its own individual combination of constituents which interact with your bodys chemistry and produces specific therapeutic effects.

Essential Oils  Read more...

Color is used in many forms to heal and aid the sick, diseased and distressed. As a color therapist I use the following color to balance the 11 chakras of the physical and energy body of the person. I always start with the heart chakra, the center of the human form and the seat of the soul. Here are the colors I use to balance the 11 chakras:

Heart Chakra: Green (4th) Green is the color of harmony and balance. It is good for tired nerves and it helps with the heart area. It will balance the emotions and bring about a feeling of calmness. Green is a good general healing color because it stimulates growth so it is good for helping heal broken bones, regret of tissue of all kinds. Green is a good color for Pregnant women to help create an atmosphere of serenity and calm. Too much green may create more negative energy if there is some already present in the person being treated.  Read more...

We all have our own fashion style, but did you realize your choice of colors may actually reveal more about you than just your tastes or that the colors you wear may even affect your moods?

It is now accepted that color can be used to stimulate or inhibit certain behaviors.

Advertising executives are well aware that a product can have a completely different impact if the color of the packaging is changed. Psychologists have found that certain colors in our immediate environment can help us perform some tasks. For example, exercise is best performed in an environment of warm colors, such as reds and oranges, whereas the tranquil blues and greens are ideal for mental Concentration.

Quite often the sayings in the English language have tapped into a deeper interpretation of the colors. Red with rage, green with jealousy, purple passion, feeling Blue, he is yellow, are well known to most people. However, each color has a cornucopia of meanings associated with it. If you would like to understand what some of the common colors mean see the chart.  Read more...

Insomnia is a symptom, not a disease. Stress related to work, school, health or family concerns. Depression. Use of stimulants, including caffeine, alcohol, nicotine or other over-the-counter or prescription medications. Prescription drugs, including some Antidepressant, High Blood Pressure and steroid medications, can interfere with sleep.

Many over-the-counter medications, including some brands of aspirin, decongestants and weight loss products, contain caffeine and other stimulants. And antihistamines can affect urinary problems. Change in environment or work schedule. Long-term use of sleep medications. Medical problems, including fibromyalgia or complex diseases of the nerves and muscles.

Behavioral Insomnia, which may occur when you worry excessively about not being able to sleep well and try too hard to fall asleep. Most people with this condition sleep better when theyre away from their usual sleep environment. Sleep

Sleep. That wonderful but sometimes elusive state of bliss and rejuvenation!

Best Sleep Tips  Read more...

Lighting colored Candles that coordinate with what you need. For example if you want to gain knowledge, light a yellow Candle. Light a pink Candle to send love. Blue to resolve a spiritual problem. Lavender is good for healing. Silver is good for protection.

Color Frequencies

RED Red is the color of energy, vitality and power. It is used for burning out Cancer, drying up weeping sores or wounds, etc.; it will warm cold areas to reduce pain. Red is a powerful healing agent for healing diseases of the blood and Circulation. It will help with Depression. Red is not to be used on people with High Blood Pressure or Anxiety. If you stay under the red ray too long or are exposed to red for a considerable time it will make you very agitated or even aggressive. It is associated with the male polarity. A red carpet or wall – in a place of business – will draw money. If you are a sales person – try wearing something red!!  Read more...

At any time of the year, there is one person in every group of five people who has a diagnosable mental disorder. This means that 1/5 of all families in the United States have family members who are experiencing developing or aggravated symptoms of mental impairment. This translates to approximately 20% of the American society.

Mental health or the lack of it is experienced by all types of people in America- from children to elderly, from Native Americans to Hispanics, from physically healthy individuals to those who have chronic diseases.

General statistics

a. Nearly 9% of the American general population suffers from all forms of phobias.

b. 5% have major depression

c. Nearly 4 million individuals suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

d. 2 million Americans have Schizophrenia

e. MAnother 2 million have Bipolar Disorders

f. MNearly 2.5 million have Panic Disorders

Statistics on the Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Children

It is estimated that around 7 to 12 million children have symptoms of psychological disorders.  Read more...

How it is defined:

Fractures are defined in medical terms as breaks in the permanence of bones. However, several types of fractures doctors consider before diagnosis is set. The types of conditions include thirteen different types, such as pathologic, complete, avulsion, incomplete, compressed, comminuted, depressed, greenstick, oblique, simple, spiral, compound, and transverse. Greenstick is a fracture of the bones, which often occurs at a youthful age. In this instance, one side of the bone is broken or out of order while the other side is curved or bent.

How doctors treat fractures is based on the findings, since few fractures may include damage of the hips.

Intertrochanteric, intracapsular, and extracapsular is the modes of hip fractures doctors consider. In addition, yes, hip fractures cause back pain.

When doctors consider back or hip fractures they often consider trauma, maturity, osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, multiple myeloma, immobility, steroids, Cushing syndrome, malnutrition, bone tumors, and so on.  Read more...