Depression and Anxiety affect millions of people worldwide and the rates of these conditions are increasing every day. These conditions can have extremely debilitating effects on those afflicted as well as their family, friends, co-workers and virtually everyone they encounter. Countless prescriptions are written each day to treat those suffering from depression and Anxiety often with terrible side effects and a limited, if any therapeutic action. However, there are proven natural approaches that can dramatically help people suffering from Depression and Anxiety. Join Gary Null Ph.D. and the 14 of the world’s leading Integrative Medical Doctors and Psychologists to learn powerful strategies to overcome Depression and Anxiety naturally. Credits Senior Executive Producer/Writer/Director Gary Null PhD Executive Producer/Co-Director Richard Polonetsky Editors: Corey Ryan Hanson Bing Jee Ng

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Question by Jenn: Should I tell my friends about my anxiety and depression…?
I’m 16, a junior and on hospital homebound program for my anxiety and depression since the start of the semester (beginning of January).

I’ve been avoiding my friends like the plague because I’ve been too exhausted to talk to them and I have so much anxiety it’s just hard to talk to them without my thoughts racing.

Although my friends know I’m homebound, they don’t know exactly WHY i’m homebound. I just tell them I was sick and missed a lot so I had to make up work. I didn’t tell them because I just don’t want them to pity me. And my friends and I know people at our school who have the same thing but still go to school, and I don’t want to seem like a spoiled brat.

And I was supposed to go back today but I had too much anxiety and I panicked so I didn’t, and I told my friends I was going to go back today but I’ll probably be home another few weeks or even the whole semester.

I WANT to tell them, just to get it off my chest, I really do, but I’m too afraid. I already have trouble explaining things, and I told my friend a VERY LITTLE BIT that I was having some “personal problems” and “some anxiety”. She was fine with it but I don’t know how to tell her more. To me, it was embarrassing to say it. And she brought it up again once casually but I was so embarrassed.

And I have a psychologist and a psychiatrist. My parents know, my counselor knows, one of the teachers for the homebound program knows.

What should I do?

Best answer:

Answer by P R
Many people, specially teenagers, are suffering from depression, an eating disorder, panic attacks, cutting…..ON THEIR OWN. You will be surprised at how many have not said anything to anyone for fear of being rejected, made fun of, or other people think that they are weird.

I was once one of those teenagers. I went through depression for 4 years. And I was able to overcome it. It was a really hard road….but it’s possible to overcome.

After reading many questions here on Yahoo!Answers I decided I wanted to help collectively and personally to as many as those people I could. I decided to create a blog to share my experiences and trials with every teenager that I can possibly show it to. As well, all the opportunities to contact me are open.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from this and is in their teenage years…dont let them go through it alone. It’s the worst situation they can be in. I was there. Send them the link to contact me or to see the blog.

Know That I care <3

http://lifeoutloudinsilence.blogspot.com

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

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Clinical depression (also called major depressive disorder, or unipolar depression when compared to bipolar disorder) is a state of intense sadness, melancholia or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an individual’s social functioning and/or activities of daily living. Depression affects people differently. Some feel down for extended periods of time; for others the feelings of depression come and go. Depression is a mood disorder that causes you to feel sad or hopeless for an extended period of time. More than just a bout of “the blues” or temporary feelings of grief or low energy. Many people identify the feeling of being clinically depressed as “feeling sad for no reason”, or “having no motivation to do anything.” One suffering from depression may feel tired, sad, irritable, lazy, unmotivated, and apathetic.

Clinical depression is not just grief or sadness. Clinical depression is generally acknowledged to be more serious than normal depressed feelings. It often leads to constant negative thinking and sometimes substance abuse. Extreme depression can culminate in its sufferers attempting or committing suicide. There are three main types of depression; unipolar disorder (major depression), bipolar disorder (manic depression) and dysthymia (prolonged sadness). Major depression usually strikes people between the ages of 25 and 44, although it can affect any person at any age. For most people, episodes of major depression last from six to nine months. Feelings of total indestructibility are common, and the manic person may believe for example that not even moving cars can stop him or her, or that he or she can fly. They experience delusions and hallucinations and sometimes talk so fast that their speech becomes illegible.

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Causes of Clinical Depression

1. Genetic Predisposition (Hormonal imbalance ).

2. Medical conditions (Neurochemical ).

3. Dietary .

4. Alcohol and other drugs.

5. Sleep quality.

6. Certain styles of thinking.

Symptoms of Clinical Depression

1. Persistent feelings of sadness, irritability, or anxiety

2. Overreaction to irritations

3. Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed, including sex

4. Sleeping too much, sleeping too little

5. Losing or gaining weight.

Treatment of Clinical Depression

Medication that relieves the symptoms of depression has been available for several decades such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft). Under some circumstances, medication and psychotherapy may be more effective than either treatment separately. Family of drugs includes fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), escitalopram (Lexapro), citalopram (Celexa), and sertraline (Zoloft). These antidepressants typically have fewer adverse side effects than the tricyclics or the MAOIs, although such effects as drowsiness, dry mouth, nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, decreased appetite, and decreased ability to function sexually may occur. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta) are a newer form of antidepressant that works on both norepinephrine and 5-HT.Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are medications that increase the amount of the neurochemical serotonin in the brain.

Norepinephrine (noradrenaline) reuptake inhibitors (NRIs) such as reboxetine (Edronax) act via norepinephrine (also known as noradrenaline). Tricyclic antidepressants are the oldest and include such medications as amitriptyline and desipramine. Tricyclics block the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and serotonin. They are used less commonly now due to the development of more selective and safer drugs. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as phenelzine (Nardil) may be used if other antidepressant medications are ineffective. Because there are potentially fatal interactions between this class of medication and certain foods, particularly those containing Tyramine. electroconvulsive therapy, are used in severe cases.

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Question by someone: signs of teenage depression?
i think i might be suffering from depression…possibly. my “symptoms” are:
- feeling sad all the time
- physical harm to myself. (trying to quit. i’ve gone 1 week without it!)
- unexplained aches
- unable to sleep at night
- unable to wake up
- losing interest in all of my hobbies
- wanting to lose contact with family and friends
- constant worries of being judged
- i’ve been accused of being “emo” recently. before it was just jokingly, now a few of them are serious
- i feel like my old happy and optimistic self is just a shell.

could this be depression..? or is it me just being a moody teenager?

and please don’t give me any preaching. i’m not looking for pity and i’m really trying to help myself.
when i say self-harm. i mean cutting…i’ve only done it 6 times before and 4 of them have left scars. i really don’t want to get help. is there any way that i can heal myself without anyone else knowing..?
oh yeah, and the unexplained aches have been explained…so that’s off the list.

Best answer:

Answer by Your Friendly Jewish Accountant
Yes, it sounds like clinical depression.

You might want to share this with your folks if it lasts longer than 2 weeks at a time.

Add your own answer in the comments!

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Article by Peter rodrick

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses with 10-15% of people suffering from depression at some stage in their lifetime. The general symptoms of depression include irritability, difficulty to concentrate, feelings of guilt or helplessness, reduced appetite, anxiety, loss of interest in activities and personal appearance, difficulty sleeping, difficulty getting up in the morning, constant tiredness, lack of energy, changes in weight and headaches.

Depression is a form of what is known as a mood or affective, disorder, because it is primarily concerned with a change in mood.Depression is a very complex illness. No-one really knows for certain what causes depression, and everyone’s experience of depression is different.

Winter Depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

This is very common in countries which have cold, cloudy winters and little daylight or sunshine. I used to live in England and did suffer a from this. Now I live in Turkey and the difference is incredible. Sometimes the weather is fantastic – sunny and warm even in winter! It does affect your mood but everybody is different, if you are very sensitive to weather change you may suffer from this.

Pregnancy Depression

Although pregnancy is normally a period of great joy, about ten percent (10%) of pregnant women experience prolong periods of great sadness.Although hormones are a factor in pregnancy depression it is not the lone cause.Dysthymia

Dysthmyia is a condition that sufferers don’t even know they have depression, it is just a daily part of their lives and always has been. People suffering from Dysthmyia are people that are simply sad, blue, always depressed but for them it is completely normal and are not aware of it. They go through life feeling unimportant, frightened, dissatisfied and simply don’t enjoy life.

Bipolar depression (or manic depression) includes both high and low mood swings, and a variety of other significant symptoms not present in other types of depression.

Seasonal Affective Disorder has symptoms that are seen with any major depressive episode. It is the recurrence of the symptoms during certain seasons that is the hallmark of this type of depression.

Non-melancholic Depression

In this case the depression is not melancholic, or, put simply, not primarily biological. Instead, it has to do with psychological causes and is very often linked to stressful events in a person’s life, alone, or in conjunction with the individual’s personality style. Non-melancholic depression is the most common of the three types of depression. Non-melancholic depression has a high rate of spontaneous remission because it is often linked to stressful events in a person’s life. Non-melancholic depression responds well to different sorts of treatments (such as psychotherapies, antidepressants and counselling), but the treatment selected should respect the cause (eg stress, personality style).

About the Author

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infowars.com March 16, 2009 Is there a pattern here? Tim Kretschmer, the child-faced killer who went on a murderous rampage at the Albertville Secondary in Winnenden, near Stuttgart, Germany, was on medication for depression, the Scotsman has revealed. It emerged that Kretschmer had been suffering from depression, even attending a clinic and getting medication for the condition, the newspaper reports. No additional specifics are supplied. Right here is a list of latest (September, 2008) shooters on numerous antidepressants (compiled by The Bitter Pill blog) DeKalb, Illinois – February 14, 2008: 27-year-old Steven Kazmierczak shot and killed 5 people and wounded 16 other people before killing himself in a Northern Illinois University auditorium. According to his girlfriend, he had not too long ago been taking Prozac, Xanax and Ambien. Toxicology reports showed that he nevertheless had trace amounts of Xanax in his method. Omaha, Nebraska – December 5, 2007: 19-year-old Robert Hawkins killed eight people and wounded 5 before committing suicide in an Omaha mall. Hawkins pal told CNN that the gunman was on antidepressants, and autopsy final results confirmed he was below the influence of the anti-anxiety drug Valium. Jokela, Finland – November 7, 2007: 18-year-old Finnish gunman Pekka-Eric Auvinen had been taking antidepressants before he killed eight people and wounded a dozen much more at Jokela Substantial School in southern Finland, then committed suicide. Cleveland, Ohio – October 10, 2007: 14-year-old Asa Coon …
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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www.lifeprinciples.com “Iget lots of ups & downs, tried to take my very own life in June 07. Been on anti-depressants ever given that.” Three months after the first ‘Luggage of Life’ session Peter give us this video interview My name is Pete. I am 39 years old. I am director of my very own organization…a extremely busy and hectic organization. I have been suffering from depression for the last two years. I tried to commit suicide two years ago…and been on quite sturdy anti-depressants for the final two years. Ahead of I referred to as Shokat I was attempting to come off my tables for six to seven months. Tried every single angle I could dropping the dosage distinct dosages taking it down but I would hit a actual reduced so I couldnt do it. I was advised to come and see Shokat by a pal (Sofia). I came to see him and he assured me that I wouldnt want to take my anti-depressants tablets yet again following 1 session which I didnt think. And positive enough after 1 session I stopped my anti-depressants, I by no means took one more tablet and for two to 3 weeks afterwards I had the most substantial large, feeling exhilarated and excited every single day. I had this weird feeling that I had my whole life in front of me…I levelled off and It felt extremely normal now for the final three months. I had no problems at all, not even considering I needed to go back to my anti-depressants. I cant thank you sufficient I think you have accomplished this kind of an wonderful job. Peter, Birmingham. Depression is so misunderstood by many people. Psychiatrists will inform you that …
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Article by Canada Drug Stop

Depression is one among the various mood swings of human being and is seen in adults and children. Scientists have diagonsed this human feeling of intense sadness which could lead to major mental illness or hallucination. People who are suffering from prolonged sadness are likely to become victim of depression and so they should get diagonsed by an expert psychiatrist. Based on the condition, doctors prescribe medication to treat depression.

A few decades ago, depression was not curable, but fortunately it is now. Depression is fairly easy to diagnose but it becomes a little bit complex if symptoms are present as well. Researches have revealed that 1.9 million (approx) people of the U.S suffer from clinical depression each year; and 1 in 4 are admitted to hospitals for treatment who have psychotic depression.

Following are few symptoms of depression that are commonly seen in the individuals:

Loss of interest: A person would not find joy and enjoyment in activities that a normal person like or the activities that was once enjoyable. This could result in avoiding social circles, family members and friends.

Sadness: If feelings for sandness persist for more than two weeks or month then it is possible that the individual is suffering from depression.

Suicidal tendency: Thoughts of ending one’s one life or death indicate that the individual is depressed.

Feeling hopeless: Feeling helpless or worthless is another symptom of depression because they can lead to sucidial thoughts and also there is a risk of attempting suicide.

If you are suffering from any of the symptoms then do not delay and consult an expert doctor. Pharmaceutical companies have also left no stone unturned to prevent and treat this condition. Cymbalta, generic name- duloxetine, a product from Eli Lilly is produced to heal depression. It is a prescriptional medication that provide immediate relief from depression. Medical practitioners highly advise patients to take this medication under the proper guidance of an expert doctor because it has certin side-effects.

About the Author

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Article by Irsan Komarga

Anti depressants are the medicine taken by people, who are suffering from depression, to make their condition in a finer stage where they keep away from any kind of depression. They are also taken for some special cases too, for example, insomnia, to quit smoking, alcoholism, etc.

There are so many anti depressants, but does they actually cure your disease of depression or they act sometimes as fake? Whatever is the answer but one thing is for sure that they do suppress your anxiety disorder so that you overcome the feeling of the depression. The type of anti depressants can be divided into 4 categories, but they should be properly taken for proper depression type and proper situation of the patient.

Getting to know some of the side effects of these anti depressants, we can list some of them as Dry Mouth, urinary retention, Blurred vision, Constipation, sedation, etc that can interfere with driving and operating machinery. Certain other side effects are Sleep disruption, Weight gain, Headaches, Nausea, Abdominal pain, Loss of libido, etc that may affect your daily life to certain extent. There may be other serious side-effects that can arise depending on the personality that the patient has. Some also comes due to improper usage and guidance provided by the professional specialists and lead to serious diseases too.

There are certain side effects which are very severe and they can be listed as psychotic episodes, suicidal thoughts and personality changes. To be very specific, these side effects vary from person to person. As each individual has his own personality and the level to which he/she can go to depression. There would hardly be someone who has not experienced any nasty side effects of these anti depressants.

Those people who are taking these anti depressants do not exactly even know that they are going through any kind of changes in their personality or in their life. There are certain advices which must be taken care of while going with the anti depressants. You must start talking to someone whom you trust a lot while you are taking anti depressants. You should try to ask them how do they feel and what changes they notice in you. The best way to change is in adapting new thoughts and patterns of society and also this is very self rewarding, when you start doing this. This will not only keep you busy, but also will help you get creative. What more? You will have less depression attacks and some anti depressants need this to aid in their proper and positive working, too.

You must never self diagnose and always have sufficient information and education regarding all the anti depressant you are using while you are in your depression phase. For example, in all these cases, a consultation with doctor or professional psychiatrist may also be useful. This will not only help you getting a third party view, but also give you proper suggestion, how to deal with any situation and make your life better with proper intake of anti depressants.

About the Author

Irsan’s passion is to write on variety of subjects. Please visit her latest website at oral b tooth brushes which contains comparisons and best deals on sonic care toothbrush and other information about electric toothbrushes.

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Article by Valerie Balandra NP

Major depression is a serious medical illness affecting 9.9 million American adults, or approximately 5 percent of the adult population in a given year. Many people suffering from depression are not aware that there are natural remedies for depression that are a safe and effective alternative to psychiatric medication. Lifestyle changes such as dietary modifications, stress reduction and exercise can also have a positive effect on depression symptoms.

Common symptoms of depression are: * Feeling sad, blue, incapable of feeling pleasure. * Change in appetite. Eating too much or not enough. * Sleep disturbance, sleeping too much or too little. * Feeling hopeless, worthless, guilty, low self esteem. * Loss of energy, no motivation, no interest or pleasure in activities. * Persistent physical symptoms such as aches, pains, headaches, stomach aches, and pain which no physical cause can be found can also be a form of depression.* Thoughts of death and suicide.

Causes of Depression depression can be triggered by traumatic life events, poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, blood sugar imbalances, allergies, medical illness, lack of exercise, drug and alcohol use, and digestive difficulties. These triggers are known to cause or contribute to neurotransmitter imbalances and depletion.

Finding the cause of depression means addressing the biochemistry of the brain. This can require testing such as Neurotransmitter testing, blood chemistry panels, thyroid and hormone testing. Proven Natural Depression Remedies

Targeted Amino Acid Therapy (TAAT)

Targeted Amino Acid Therapy or TAAT is designed to address neurotransmitter deficiencies or imbalances. Neurotransmitters are synthesized from various amino acid precursors. Serotonin, for example, is synthesized from 5-HTP, and oral doses of 5-HTP have been shown to significantly elevate serotonin levels.

A non-invasive neurotransmitter lab test is available to measure your neurotransmitter and hormones levels. This test will determine which neurotransmitters are too high or to low. If an imbalance is present targeted amino acid therapy can help bring them back into balance thereby reducing or eliminating symptoms such as anxiety or depression. The program uses a combination of specific amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that will increase your body’s production of neurotransmitters. These formulas can be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies your practitioner may prescribe. The right balance of these chemicals can set the stage for restoring your health. You brain and nervous system will once again send strong signals to the rest of your body.

5HTP 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an amino acid. It is found in high concentrations in the brain and acts as a building block for the brain to make serotonin. Under the proper stimulus the brain will turn 5-HTP into serotonin and/or melatonin. Because of this mechanism, 5-HTP is a very gentle yet powerful product to support mood. 5-HTP may work synergistically with certain nutritional supplements to support mood. This nutritive amino acid may also support a healthy sleep cycle. Serotonin is involved in mood regulation, sleep, and appetite control.

L-Carnitine

L-Carnitine is an amino acid that has been reported to safely alleviate depression in some people in doses of 1000 mg twice a day. Acetyl-L-carnitine is a form of carnitine that has shown superior absorption effects to regular L-carnitine.

L-Tryptophan L-Tryptophan is the precursor to Serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain, which is deficient in depression. L-Tryptophan is a natural relaxant and helps alleviate insomnia by inducing normal sleep. L-Tryptophan reduces anxiety & depression; helps in the treatment of migraine headaches; helps the immune system; helps reduce the risk of artery & heart spasms.

SAM-e SAM-e is involved in more than 35 biochemical reactions involving enzymatic transmethylation. Methylation is the process by which the body rids itself of compounds, synthesizes neurotransmitters, makes components of cartilage, regulates enzyme activity within the cell, and maintains the flexibility of cell membranes. Serotonin and other brain chemicals require methylation to be synthesized. SAM-e promotes healthy joint function and comfort, boosts mood and emotional well-being. The suggested dose of SAMe to treat depression ranges from 400-1600 mg a day.

St. John’s Wort Numerous scientific studies have addressed the effectiveness and safety of standardized St. John’s Wort extract. There are many biologically active components in St. John’s Wort, including: naphthodianthrones (hypericin and pseudohypericin), xanthones, phloroglucinols, and various flavonoids, including flavonols and proanthocyanidins. It is thought to work by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA. Hypericin extract appears to inhibit serotonin uptake by postsynaptic receptors and increase synaptic dopamine concentration. Recommended dosage 300 mg three times a day.

Natural remedies for depression can provide persons suffering with depression a safe and effective alternative to taking pharmaceutical medications or enable them to reduce the dose.If you are taking an antidepressant, don’t stop taking it on your own. Supplements can be used to reduce dosages of prescription medication or provide an alternative, but this should be done under medical supervision.

Dietary Remedies

Folic acid

Folic acid is needed to make the neurotransmitter group called the catecholamines including dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Research suggests that folic acid depletion may help contribute to depression, anxiety and panic. Sources: Asparagus, Beets, Brussels sprouts, Bok choy, Peas, fresh, Beans, dried, Chick-peas, Soybeans, Lentils, Oranges, Turkey, Cabbage, Savoy, Spinach, Broccoli, Avocados

Magnesium

Magnesium may be beneficial for depression by helping in the formation if certain neurotransmitters and because it helps muscles to relax. Sources : Spinach, Avocados, Chocolate, Pumpkin seeds, Oysters, Sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, Buckwheat, Amaranth, Quinoa, Almonds, Barley.

Niacin

Niacin is needed for nerve cell function. Niacin helps the body to release energy from carbohydrates, control blood sugar, and maintain proper nervous system function. Sources: Rice, brown, Lamb, Pomegranates, Tuna, Chicken, Turkey, Wheat

Omega-3 fatty acids Omega-3 fatty acids are involved in the cell signaling, and compose part of the cell membrane making it fluid. It reduces inflammatory processes, and is involved in several aspects of neurotransmitter function. Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids have been found the diet and cell membranes of depressed individuals. Sources: Salmon, Trout, Tuna.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is a cofactor vitamin required for the manufacture of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters), such as serotonin. Serotonin is one of the neurotransmitters that promotes feelings of wellbeing. Vitamin B6 may also help boost the immune system during times of depression and anxiety. Sources: Sweet potatoes, Avocados, Bananas, Mangoes, Sunflower seeds, Tuna, Chick-peas, Salmon, Pork, fresh, Potatoes, Turkey, Chicken, Bok choy, Rice, brown, and Barely.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters. It works in concert with other B vitamins. B12 supports the nervous system and assists the body in converting food into energy. Sources: Beef, Yogurt, Tuna, Lamb, Oysters, Trout, Crab, Clams

Lifestyle Changes

Have a home environment that provides natural lightUse as much natural lighting in your home as possible. Unnatural florescent lighting can be especially aggravating. Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression caused by insufficient natural light. People who live in areas with a prolonged winter are prone to this type of depression. If you are not getting at least 15 minutes of exposure to natural sunlight consider purchasing full spectrum lighting for the rooms you spend most of your time.

Physical Exercise

Exercise can be one of the safest and most effective methods of decreasing depression. Cardiovascular exercise combined with calming exercise such as walking several times per week can be very beneficial. Try walking, swimming, bicycling, jogging, yoga, tai-chi, skiing, and tennis; even golf burns calories.

Sufficient sleepMany people cannot sleep with depression. A restful night is a key ingredient to help many deal with the daily stresses of life. If you have depression and anxiety getting a good night’s sleep is very important. Avoid stimulating activities before going to bed, like reading a book, or exercising. Some dietary supplements that are helpful in establishing sleep are melatonin and kava kava. Alcohol is a depressant, and it can greatly interfere with your sleep patterns. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes before going to bed.

Stress-Reduction TechniquesStress depletes neurotransmitter levels. Mind/body breathing exercises, physical exercise, yoga, tai chi, self-hypnosis, massage, meditation, and biofeedback are just some of the stress reduction techniques used for depression. Listening to music, relaxation CD’s, and visual imagery are also effective stress reducers. Meditation is a great tool to prevent those negative thoughts from taking over.

About the Author

Valerie Balandra ARNP, BC is a board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and holistic health practitioner. Her Integrative Psychiatry practice and website focuses on ways to identify causes of bio-chemical imbalances and provides natural treatments for depression and anxiety. She offers telephone consultations to patients as well as healthcare practitioners.

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