Comments for Expert Advisor on Anxiety and Depression http://ourexpertadvisor.com Overcoming Anxiety and Depression Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:32:52 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Anyone have good information about depression? by Violet Pearl http://ourexpertadvisor.com/anyone-have-good-information-about-depression/#comment-415 Violet Pearl Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:32:52 +0000 http://ourexpertadvisor.com/anyone-have-good-information-about-depression/#comment-415 If you don't eat right, you won't feel right- it's that simple. http://hypoglycemia.org/hypo_test.asp If you don’t eat right, you won’t feel right- it’s that simple.
http://hypoglycemia.org/hypo_test.asp

]]> Comment on Anyone have good information about depression? by CuriousSam http://ourexpertadvisor.com/anyone-have-good-information-about-depression/#comment-414 CuriousSam Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:12:18 +0000 http://ourexpertadvisor.com/anyone-have-good-information-about-depression/#comment-414 Sounds like your sad over your break up, but also sounds like there is underlying depression. I find a regular sleep pattern very helpful in stabilizing mood. Establish a regular bed time, stay in bed 8 hours, whether you sleep or not. Meditate if you can't get to sleep. Set the alarm. When it goes off, get up immediately and then immediately get into a hot shower. This will do more to wake up your brain cells, shake off depressive thoughts, and create new energy than ten cups of coffee dawdled over in a half awake stupor which only turns your thoughts inward and downward in a depressive spiral. Depressive thoughts drain energy. Distract your mind from the depressive thought cycle by engaging in activity. Depression is cured by energy and activity---which produce each other in turn. You must force yourself to get started, but that self starting will create new energy. Some speak of it as clicking the "amygdala" (in the brain) forward, that is, "on". A book: "Cognitive Therapy" may be helpful. I forget the author. Published around early 80's. Avoidance of bedtime either with friends, TV, internet, whatever, is an avoidance of sleep. Probably because the dream cycle leaves you with depressed feelings in the morning, but really this is the psyche trying to heal itself. Just turn off that cycle first thing upon the alarm going off, by forcing yourself to be bright eyed, wide awake, energetic, active, immediately on waking. Force yourself into that shower! This will be an act of will power at first, but do it, and it will become a health producing and happiness producing habit. Good idea is make a "to do list" the day before. Make it a reasonable one. Don't depress yourself by setting impossible goals. Include a couple of activities you really look forward to. This motivates an eager and early start. Lay out your outfit the night before. Decision making can be difficult when depressed, and can produce more fatigue and depression. Do it at night when your energy is higher. That way you can spring into action in the morning, without going through a a depressing decision making process, which if you awake depressed, may tempt you to just roll over and go back to sleep. Excessive sleep pulls you down the depressive spiral. Do not be a perfectionist. Only God is perfect. Expecting perfecton of ourselves is unrealistic, and can only set us up for dissappointment. Just sincerely do your best, and enjoy the satisfacton in knowing that you have done your best, and in knowing that if you have erred, it has been an honest error. Do learn from your mistakes. Trial and error is the very most successsful learning mechanism on the planet---be it by humans or unicellular creatures. Try to find a good friend, a parent, a counsellor, a minister or priest---someone you can really have heart to heart, no holds barred conversations with about anything, but especially about the things which trouble you. Someone you really trust and who is worthy of the confidence you place in him/her. If it is a friend, just make sure they have their head screwed on tightly or it may be the blind leading the blind down into the abyss. If necessary, seek professional help from a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. Avoid alcohol and substance abuse. Even prescription drugs simply mask the symptoms. Try to use them minimally if a professional feels they are really necessary for brief chemical therapy. If so, try to find professionals who believe in minimizing prescription drug therapy. Ideally, you want your pcyhe to produce its own happiness without chemical alteration. And remember, life is not a bowl of cherries. We can't have happiness without also some sadness. That is the human condition. If things go too great(too high) for too long, you can bet there will be a crash somehere down the line. And the higher the high, and the longer delayed the crash, the deeper and more severe will it be. Read : "Desiderata". Be Careful. Strive to be happy! Vaya con dios! From one who has been there, done that! Sounds like your sad over your break up, but also sounds like there is underlying depression. I find a regular sleep pattern very helpful in stabilizing mood. Establish a regular bed time, stay in bed 8 hours, whether you sleep or not. Meditate if you can’t get to sleep. Set the alarm. When it goes off, get up immediately and then immediately get into a hot shower. This will do more to wake up your brain cells, shake off depressive thoughts, and create new energy than ten cups of coffee dawdled over in a half awake stupor which only turns your thoughts inward and downward in a depressive spiral. Depressive thoughts drain energy. Distract your mind from the depressive thought cycle by engaging in activity. Depression is cured by energy and activity—which produce each other in turn. You must force yourself to get started, but that self starting will create new energy. Some speak of it as clicking the “amygdala” (in the brain) forward, that is, “on”. A book: “Cognitive Therapy” may be helpful. I forget the author. Published around early 80′s. Avoidance of bedtime either with friends, TV, internet, whatever, is an avoidance of sleep. Probably because the dream cycle leaves you with depressed feelings in the morning, but really this is the psyche trying to heal itself. Just turn off that cycle first thing upon the alarm going off, by forcing yourself to be bright eyed, wide awake, energetic, active, immediately on waking. Force yourself into that shower! This will be an act of will power at first, but do it, and it will become a health producing and happiness producing habit.
Good idea is make a “to do list” the day before. Make it a reasonable one. Don’t depress yourself by setting impossible goals. Include a couple of activities you really look forward to. This motivates an eager and early start. Lay out your outfit the night before. Decision making can be difficult when depressed, and can produce more fatigue and depression. Do it at night when your energy is higher. That way you can spring into action in the morning, without going through a a depressing decision making process, which if you awake depressed, may tempt you to just roll over and go back to sleep. Excessive sleep pulls you down the depressive spiral.

Do not be a perfectionist. Only God is perfect. Expecting perfecton of ourselves is unrealistic, and can only set us up for dissappointment. Just sincerely do your best, and enjoy the satisfacton in knowing that you have done your best, and in knowing that if you have erred, it has been an honest error. Do learn from your mistakes. Trial and error is the very most successsful learning mechanism on the planet—be it by humans or unicellular creatures.

Try to find a good friend, a parent, a counsellor, a minister or priest—someone you can really have heart to heart, no holds barred conversations with about anything, but especially about the things which trouble you. Someone you really trust and who is worthy of the confidence you place in him/her. If it is a friend, just make sure they have their head screwed on tightly or it may be the blind leading the blind down into the abyss. If necessary, seek professional help from a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.

Avoid alcohol and substance abuse. Even prescription drugs simply mask the symptoms. Try to use them minimally if a professional feels they are really necessary for brief chemical therapy. If so, try to find professionals who believe in minimizing prescription drug therapy. Ideally, you want your pcyhe to produce its own happiness without chemical alteration. And remember, life is not a bowl of cherries. We can’t have happiness without also some sadness. That is the human condition. If things go too great(too high) for too long, you can bet there will be a crash somehere down the line. And the higher the high, and the longer delayed the crash, the deeper and more severe will it be.

Read : “Desiderata”. Be Careful. Strive to be happy!

Vaya con dios!

From one who has been there, done that!

]]> Comment on Anyone have good information about depression? by Megumi D http://ourexpertadvisor.com/anyone-have-good-information-about-depression/#comment-413 Megumi D Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:35:37 +0000 http://ourexpertadvisor.com/anyone-have-good-information-about-depression/#comment-413 The feelings and behaviors that you describe are symptoms of a depressive disorder, but without knowing and seeing you, it is impossible to say how severe the disorder is. But from what you describe, you do seem to have a depressive disorder. One of the other criteria is that these moods and behaviors are significantly harming your schoolwork, which you say is happening because you are getting poor grades. I think that it is possible that you are not only sad over your break-up with your bf, but that you have reached the point that you have a true depressive disorder. A depression disorder is a combination of moods, thoughts, and behaviors that show that you are clinically depressed--that you have a disorder, not just a bad mood. Poor concentration, inability to feel pleasure, problems sleeping and eating, poor motivation, depressed mood, feeling irritable, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness--all of these things that you describe are symptoms of a "clinical depressive disorder". First off, you should talk to your parents about your feelings and your behavior. They will probably be much more understanding than you think they might be, and they will probably help you to get treatment for your depression. If you don't feel safe talking to your parents, you can go to your counselor at school who can help you to find a therapist or counselor to talk to. Because you are young, if you follow some basic structure of therapy that includes doing some scheduling of your activities, some work on your behaviors and thoughts, they should be able to help you to feel better without having to take an anti-depressant medication. But if the therapist or counselor thinks that you should see a psychiatrist (an MD who can prescribe medications for you), you should go for an evaluation. It all depends on how severe the therapist thinks that your disorder is, how seriously it is affecting you. If you have thoughts about harming yourself, or if you are cutting or otherwise hurting yourself, you should go to a crisis center or an emergency room right away. You don't have to live with such pain in your life. It is a very good sign that you were able to reach out to others by asking the question in the first place. Now you should do more and go to see someone who can help you in person. You can look up the symptoms of major depressive disorders on: www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/mjrdepep.htm and it also has links to other depressive disorders. But it is usually really difficult to diagnose yourself, and you can't treat yourself, so it is better to go to a counselor for help. Good luck. It DOES get better, too, and more quickly if you get good treatment for it. The feelings and behaviors that you describe are symptoms of a depressive disorder, but without knowing and seeing you, it is impossible to say how severe the disorder is. But from what you describe, you do seem to have a depressive disorder. One of the other criteria is that these moods and behaviors are significantly harming your schoolwork, which you say is happening because you are getting poor grades.

I think that it is possible that you are not only sad over your break-up with your bf, but that you have reached the point that you have a true depressive disorder. A depression disorder is a combination of moods, thoughts, and behaviors that show that you are clinically depressed–that you have a disorder, not just a bad mood. Poor concentration, inability to feel pleasure, problems sleeping and eating, poor motivation, depressed mood, feeling irritable, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness–all of these things that you describe are symptoms of a “clinical depressive disorder”. First off, you should talk to your parents about your feelings and your behavior. They will probably be much more understanding than you think they might be, and they will probably help you to get treatment for your depression. If you don’t feel safe talking to your parents, you can go to your counselor at school who can help you to find a therapist or counselor to talk to. Because you are young, if you follow some basic structure of therapy that includes doing some scheduling of your activities, some work on your behaviors and thoughts, they should be able to help you to feel better without having to take an anti-depressant medication. But if the therapist or counselor thinks that you should see a psychiatrist (an MD who can prescribe medications for you), you should go for an evaluation. It all depends on how severe the therapist thinks that your disorder is, how seriously it is affecting you.

If you have thoughts about harming yourself, or if you are cutting or otherwise hurting yourself, you should go to a crisis center or an emergency room right away. You don’t have to live with such pain in your life. It is a very good sign that you were able to reach out to others by asking the question in the first place. Now you should do more and go to see someone who can help you in person.

You can look up the symptoms of major depressive disorders on: http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/mjrdepep.htm
and it also has links to other depressive disorders. But it is usually really difficult to diagnose yourself, and you can’t treat yourself, so it is better to go to a counselor for help.

Good luck. It DOES get better, too, and more quickly if you get good treatment for it.

]]> Comment on Anyone have good information about depression? by Ian B http://ourexpertadvisor.com/anyone-have-good-information-about-depression/#comment-412 Ian B Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:48:50 +0000 http://ourexpertadvisor.com/anyone-have-good-information-about-depression/#comment-412 It does sound like you're depressed, the lack of motivation and the lack of attention are signs. Try to look at the positive things in your life, I know this isn't always easy, but just trying will help. Try to do something you enjoy, this could be anything, reading a book, listening to music, watching a film or tv, absolutely anything that puts a smile on your face. Talk to someone close to you about it, tell them how you feel. I know you said you stay out with your friends til late, now I don't want to sound like an old fuddy duddy, but try to get an early night now and again, sleep is the body and minds way of healing. If you start feeling worse, then go and see your doctor, and explain it, they will be able to help. Good Luck. xxx Take a look at my Yahoo 360 Blog, there's more info on there !! It does sound like you’re depressed, the lack of motivation and the lack of attention are signs. Try to look at the positive things in your life, I know this isn’t always easy, but just trying will help. Try to do something you enjoy, this could be anything, reading a book, listening to music, watching a film or tv, absolutely anything that puts a smile on your face. Talk to someone close to you about it, tell them how you feel. I know you said you stay out with your friends til late, now I don’t want to sound like an old fuddy duddy, but try to get an early night now and again, sleep is the body and minds way of healing. If you start feeling worse, then go and see your doctor, and explain it, they will be able to help. Good Luck. xxx

Take a look at my Yahoo 360 Blog, there’s more info on there !!

]]> Comment on Is Mild Depression a mental Illness? by Jody http://ourexpertadvisor.com/is-mild-depression-a-mental-illness/#comment-411 Jody Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:13:30 +0000 http://ourexpertadvisor.com/is-mild-depression-a-mental-illness/#comment-411 From Wikipedia: A Psychiatrist or any MD can diagnose depression. Psychiatrists are the experts in the field of mental illness. Depression is thought of as both a disease and a syndrome. Diagnosis has to fit criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) (it's like the Bible of mental illnesses in the US). In it there are 11 different psychological disorders where depressed mood is a core feature; "Adjustment disorder with depressed mood" is an exact diagnosis Both clinical and non-clinical depression can refer to a conglomeration of more than one feeling, not just "sadness." "Milder depression" has been associated with what has been called "depressive realism," or the "sadder-but-wiser" effect, a view of the world that is relatively undistorted by positive biases. In psychology self esteem reflects a person's overall evaluation or appraisal of his own worth. Self esteem encompasses beliefs, emotions and behavior that reflect self-esteem From Wikipedia:

A Psychiatrist or any MD can diagnose depression. Psychiatrists are the experts in the field of mental illness. Depression is thought of as both a disease and a syndrome.

Diagnosis has to fit criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) (it’s like the Bible of mental illnesses in the US). In it there are 11 different psychological disorders where depressed mood is a core feature;

“Adjustment disorder with depressed mood” is an exact diagnosis

Both clinical and non-clinical depression can refer to a conglomeration of more than one feeling, not just “sadness.”

“Milder depression” has been associated with what has been called “depressive realism,” or the “sadder-but-wiser” effect, a view of the world that is relatively undistorted by positive biases.

In psychology self esteem reflects a person’s overall evaluation or appraisal of his own worth. Self esteem encompasses beliefs, emotions and behavior that reflect self-esteem

]]> Comment on Is Mild Depression a mental Illness? by Star-Starlit<3 http://ourexpertadvisor.com/is-mild-depression-a-mental-illness/#comment-410 Star-Starlit<3 Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:56:09 +0000 http://ourexpertadvisor.com/is-mild-depression-a-mental-illness/#comment-410 mild depression-it's depression, but not TOO severe...but it's still depression, and needs to be treated...and websites can give u an idea of a diagnoses...but u need an actual doctor to diagnose u... u can look it up for now if u like...but if u really think u might be depressed, go to ur doctor to get ur diagnoses... here are some websites u can look at for now... http://www.depression-guide.com/mild-depression.htm http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=21566 http://www.thirdage.com/depression/depression-mild-to-moderate http://www.webmd.com/depression/recognizing-depression-symptoms/emotional-symptoms ...u still need a doctors diagnoses though...but just to inform urself on it...enjoy! Hope I Helped! ;D TTYL!<333 p.s. depression is a sort of mental ilness...its when u become too sad for too long...from lost of intrest-to suicidal thoughts... mild depression-it’s depression, but not TOO severe…but it’s still depression, and needs to be treated…and websites can give u an idea of a diagnoses…but u need an actual doctor to diagnose u…
u can look it up for now if u like…but if u really think u might be depressed, go to ur doctor to get ur diagnoses…
here are some websites u can look at for now…
http://www.depression-guide.com/mild-depression.htm
http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=21566
http://www.thirdage.com/depression/depression-mild-to-moderate
http://www.webmd.com/depression/recognizing-depression-symptoms/emotional-symptoms
…u still need a doctors diagnoses though…but just to inform urself on it…enjoy!
Hope I Helped! ;D
TTYL!<333

p.s. depression is a sort of mental ilness…its when u become too sad for too long…from lost of intrest-to suicidal thoughts…

]]> Comment on Is Mild Depression a mental Illness? by Lifespanz http://ourexpertadvisor.com/is-mild-depression-a-mental-illness/#comment-409 Lifespanz Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:52:22 +0000 http://ourexpertadvisor.com/is-mild-depression-a-mental-illness/#comment-409 There are lots of different levels of depression Check out your level of depression http://psychcentral.com/depquiz.htm If you want to treat how you feel try the following Find out what makes you feel good, what you enjoy doing and do it. Do the VIA test at www.authentichappiness.com Another thing is to deal with your personal baggage ...this is about forgiveness and acceptance of others warts and all One last things getting to know yourself http://www.wsc.edu/advising_services/career_planning/exploration/personality_careers/determine_type There are lots of different levels of depression
Check out your level of depression
http://psychcentral.com/depquiz.htm
If you want to treat how you feel try the following
Find out what makes you feel good, what you enjoy doing and do it. Do the VIA test at http://www.authentichappiness.com
Another thing is to deal with your personal baggage …this is about forgiveness and acceptance of others warts and all
One last things getting to know yourself
http://www.wsc.edu/advising_services/career_planning/exploration/personality_careers/determine_type

]]> Comment on Is Mild Depression a mental Illness? by Toss that Yeyo and Run http://ourexpertadvisor.com/is-mild-depression-a-mental-illness/#comment-408 Toss that Yeyo and Run Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:18:52 +0000 http://ourexpertadvisor.com/is-mild-depression-a-mental-illness/#comment-408 Yes, major depressive disorder is broken in three subtypes: Mild, Moderate, and Severe. The mild type diagnosis would be used when the person meets the criteria for major depressive disorder as it is defined in the DSM IV, but is still able to function in day-to-day life. It is all about how well you function while experiencing an episode. Yes, major depressive disorder is broken in three subtypes: Mild, Moderate, and Severe. The mild type diagnosis would be used when the person meets the criteria for major depressive disorder as it is defined in the DSM IV, but is still able to function in day-to-day life. It is all about how well you function while experiencing an episode.

]]> Comment on How to stop Depression Alcohol abuse? by Crazy Wolf http://ourexpertadvisor.com/how-to-stop-depression-alcohol-abuse/#comment-407 Crazy Wolf Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:48:13 +0000 http://ourexpertadvisor.com/how-to-stop-depression-alcohol-abuse/#comment-407 The first thing you need to realize is that alcohol makes depression worse. The best thing to do is realize drinking is a choice and you CAN choose not to drink. Most rehabs and such will only do so much then send you to AA which has the EXACT same success rate as quitting on your own but also has higher suicide rate and in my opinion it is trading one addiction for another. You must realize you are not powerless. You do have a choice. AA tells you that you are powerless and only their concept of god can keep you sober. If you feel you need god to keep you sober then start attending church it is much better. The problem there is a lot of churches do not even try to help the alcoholic and send them to AA then wonder why that person got heavily involved in AA and stopped attending church. You need help with depression but problem is a good number of psychiatrists refuse to treat depression in people who drink heavy. so I suggest you stop drinking for 6 months then if you still are depressed go see a doctor. A good friend of mine was bi polar and self medicated and an idiot doctor refused to treat his mental illness and sent him to AA and he almost committed suicide. He has been sober now for 18 years but is still on medication but he had to stop drinking before the doctors would even talk to him about his depression. It took him 2 years being sober before any doctor would treat his depression. I hope it does not take that long for you. A lot of doctors just figure the alcoholic is not clinically depressed but it is the alcohol is causing the depression. The first thing you need to realize is that alcohol makes depression worse. The best thing to do is realize drinking is a choice and you CAN choose not to drink. Most rehabs and such will only do so much then send you to AA which has the EXACT same success rate as quitting on your own but also has higher suicide rate and in my opinion it is trading one addiction for another. You must realize you are not powerless. You do have a choice. AA tells you that you are powerless and only their concept of god can keep you sober. If you feel you need god to keep you sober then start attending church it is much better. The problem there is a lot of churches do not even try to help the alcoholic and send them to AA then wonder why that person got heavily involved in AA and stopped attending church.

You need help with depression but problem is a good number of psychiatrists refuse to treat depression in people who drink heavy. so I suggest you stop drinking for 6 months then if you still are depressed go see a doctor. A good friend of mine was bi polar and self medicated and an idiot doctor refused to treat his mental illness and sent him to AA and he almost committed suicide. He has been sober now for 18 years but is still on medication but he had to stop drinking before the doctors would even talk to him about his depression. It took him 2 years being sober before any doctor would treat his depression. I hope it does not take that long for you. A lot of doctors just figure the alcoholic is not clinically depressed but it is the alcohol is causing the depression.

]]> Comment on How to stop Depression Alcohol abuse? by Wendy S http://ourexpertadvisor.com/how-to-stop-depression-alcohol-abuse/#comment-406 Wendy S Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:34:07 +0000 http://ourexpertadvisor.com/how-to-stop-depression-alcohol-abuse/#comment-406 It sounds like you need help with depression and with alcohol abuse. For depression there is medication available but you would need to speak with your doctor about it. Below is a site with more info about depression called beyond blue. To connect online with people who may understand where you're at, try mental earth forum. Some people have found it really useful. The last link is about drug treatment for alcohol dependence. It may give you some information that proves useful. It sounds like you need help with depression and with alcohol abuse. For depression there is medication available but you would need to speak with your doctor about it. Below is a site with more info about depression called beyond blue.
To connect online with people who may understand where you’re at, try mental earth forum. Some people have found it really useful.
The last link is about drug treatment for alcohol dependence. It may give you some information that proves useful.

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