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