Tropical Depression Storm Kirk

Tropical Depression Storm Kirk
By Lance Winslow

Well Captain, we cannot take much more of this our civilization is going to have serious hull damage and potential structural failure. Scotty hold on we are not thru the storm season yet. Tropical Depression and now Tropical Storm Kirk is here and many in its path are saying; Beam Me Up! This storm is growing and should become a Hurricane Soon as the Satellite Imagery show a rather wicked system.

We still have quite a ways to go in this years 2006 Atlantic Tropical Hurricane Season and Kirk is showing us it may even be possible to break a few records this year as well as we boldly go where no man has gone before. As if anyone thought that could be possible after last years 2005 Atlantic Tropical Hurricane Season, a record breaker in so many ways.

Luckily we are getting plenty of out of this world forewarning from the NASA and NOAA satellites and we are watching these on every major news channel, the Internet and the famous Weather Channel. Meanwhile the Hurricane Hunters are gathering data, while the National Hurricane Center in Miami weighs in all the data to determine if Hurricane Kirk will do as much damage as the last Klingon Strike. Consider all this in 2006.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; www.WorldThinkTank.net/

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A Guide to Omega 3 Depression

A Guide to Omega 3 Depression
By Dan Ho

Can fish oil control depression?

The omega 3 depression research consists of clinical trials with patients suffering from bi-polar disorder, post-partum depression and mild to moderate depression. The omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are generally used together in these studies, but sometimes only one or the other is used. These trials and studies attempt to answer the question: can fish oil control depression? Omega 3 depression researchers use fish oil specifically because it is the best and most common source of DHA and EPA.

Omega 3 research on depression varies in methodology. One study at the University Of Arizona College Of Medicine assessed the effectiveness of omega 3 dosages ranging from a half gram per day to 2.8 grams per day on women suffering from post-partum depression. The sample size was small and no placebo group was used. Doctors used two tests to measure degree of depression before and after omega 3 supplementation. The before and after results of this omega 3 depression study showed a decrease of 48-51% in degree of depression.

The answer to the question: can fish oil control depression, based on this study, was that results support further study of omega 3 fatty acids as a treatment for post-partum depression.

An omega 3 depression study in London concluded that EPA was an effective treatment for bi-polar disorder. Because of the link between depression and chronic fatigue syndrome, the effectiveness of omega 3's in treating this syndrome has been studied and concluded that patients responded favorably.

Another omega 3 depression study was actually a study that involved studying other studes (sounds confusing, but this is actually often done), and concluded that it is likely that low levels of omega 3 fatty acids in the bloodstream are linked and may, in some cases, be the cause of depression. Can fish oil control depression? Very possibly.

In general, many studies report an improvement in symptoms related to depression after supplementation of omega 3 fatty acids.

Keep in mind, no one is suggesting that anyone stop taking their anti-depressant medications. Only that adding a dietary supplement of omega 3 fish oil may help relieve some symptoms, may improve mood.

Find out more about omega 3 depression and the best fish oil product we ourselves take after extensive product research. Visit: http://www.omega-3-fish-oil-guide.com/Omega3Depression.html

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Depression Holiday Blues Seasonal Affective Disorder: The Other Side of Merry Christmas

Depression, Holiday Blues, Seasonal Affective Disorder: The Other Side of Merry Christmas
By William L. Smith Ph. D.

The holiday season is upon us and the merriment and joy is a very exciting time for most people. However, for many individuals, the period between Thanksgiving through New Year's Day does nothing for them but bring on the blues. With holiday celebrations to attend and family gatherings to prepare for, the holiday season can be busy and joyful. But for others, unrealistic expectations and the stresses of holiday events can increase anxiety and cause depression.

This time of the year, in general, we are reminded of people we missed and reflecting on life not being what we would like it to be. The season triggers childhood memories and how things used to be. And, too often, people have a tendency to assign positive spin to things from the past and sometimes and look back to their childhood and think wouldn't it be wonderful if things were like that again.

The elderly are particularly vulnerable especially if they are physically incapacitated or estranged from friends and family members. The holiday season is supposed to be a time of happiness and joy, but for many seniors this is far from their reality. For many seniors, feelings of sadness, loneliness and isolation are their holiday companions.

There are many factors that contribute to those feelings of sadness that seniors may experience. Many elders are widowed, have lost their close friends as they age, are separated from family and may be suffering with chronic illness. Too often, the elders may feel guilty for experiencing feelings of sadness and loneliness which may in turn intensify those same feelings. To help cope with the holiday blues, seniors shouldn't isolate themselves. If you are unable to be with family than invite friends over to share the holiday spirits. Also volunteer your time helping others is a great way to forget your own troubles.

Thanksgiving is certainly the starting point for the season of blues, this is true for those who celebrate Christmas and for those individuals who do not. However, New Year's Eve can lead to intense sadness or profound depression and some individual may experience anxiety about New Year resolution making and looking back on the previous year can cause more anxiety. The season to be jolly can be a rude-awaken for people with limited coping skills, especially for those dealing with financial hardship. To spend beyond your means can certainly lead to depression.

Today's society in which individualism is highly valued, the holiday blues may hit more people harder because we live more isolated lives. in far too many cases, we drive up to our houses, wave to our neighbors, push the garage remote and vanish inside our homes. We captive to technology and rather email people than talk to them face-to-face. We must make time ... we must make the effort and reach out to others, human being need a sense of belonging; We are tribal by nature.

The best cure for the holiday blues is a strong dose of getting together with friends, sharing the seasonal blues or get high on volunteerism.

Dr. William Smith is a psychotherapist with many years experience working with depressed clients. From December 15 through January 05, 2007 Dr. Smith is available to talk with (via email) who may experience the holiday blues. There is no charge for this consult... visit: http://www.insightconsultant.com

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World Peace by Meditation: The End of Poverty and Anger Stress Tension Depression Sorrow Hate

World Peace by Meditation: The End of Poverty and Anger, Stress, Tension, Depression, Sorrow, Hate
By Swami Satchidanand

One of the worlds greatest Meditators, says Governments can't eradicate poverty from the Earth. Neither can they bring peace. To resolve problems through negotiation is a very childish approach,

A few hundred meditators on either side of a conflict is all that's needed to create an aura of peace. We create world consciousness and coherence. Therefore, fighting will stop all over, Don't fight darkness. Bring the light of Meditation, and darkness will disappear.

Eliminate poverty? End war and create world peace? The unifying field that Albert Einstein sought has been within us all the time, in the unbounded consciousness of the mind. There is one unity, unified wholeness, total unified consciousness,

Tear down major structures and cities -- the White House and the United Nations among them Heal the energies and rebuild them according to energetic architectural plans that harmonize construction with nature.

Send meditation groups to world hot spots as psychic shock troops whose combined positive energy will dispel negativity, reduce crime, ease conflict and promote world peace.

Buy billions of acres in 100 developing countries for labor-intensive farming, providing employment and income for the world's poorest people by feeding the First-World market for organic food.

Meditation is a 20-minute twice daily routine in which the meditator silently focuses on a sound, or mantra, to induce relaxation and Dive Into A State Of Pure Consciousness And Tap Into The Deepest Resources Of The Brain And Intelligence.

With Meditation Anger, Stress, Tension, Depression, Sorrow, Hate, Fear -- these things start to retreat, said American movie director David Lynch of Twin Peaks renown, who has practiced Meditation for 32 years. And for a filmmaker, having this negativity lift away is money in the bank. When you're suffering you can't create.

Most scientists agree Meditation can ease stress, high blood pressure, pain and insomnia. Meditation has gained legitimacy. The National Institutes of Health has had a Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine since 1998 to research these practices.

There are now over 600 published Scientific Studies on the Benefits of Meditation.

Here is the Recent News on Meditation.

Study: Meditation may boost brain activity
Regular meditation has been touted as a stress reducer for years, but a recent study says practitioners benefit from a brain boost as well.

Meditation embraced
Meditation is being embraced within medical circles as a powerful healing tool.

Scientists to check Nepal Buddha boy
Scientists in Nepal are to examine a meditating teenager who is said to take no food or liquid

Director aims to boost meditation
Director David Lynch wants $7bn (3.98bn) to introduce meditation to US schools in a bid for world peace.

Meditation to tackle depression
Psychologists appeal for volunteers to take part in a study using practices to prevent suicidal depression.

Meditation 'brain training' clues
Meditating monks are giving clues about how the brain's basic responses can be overridden, researchers say.

Buddhists can move to centre
Claims that a new Buddhist meditation centre would be too 'noisy' for local residents is rejected by councilors.

School pupils learn to meditate
Pupils whose school burnt down have found a new home at a therapy centre which specializes in meditation.

Vicar opens Indian-style retreat
A clergyman opens a multi-faith retreat encouraging people of different religions to meet and meditate.

Seaside town greets Buddhist nun
A Westen Buddhist nun relocates to north Wales to begin meditation classes at a Colwyn Bay centre.

Buddhist's battle to meditate
A Buddhist is forced to apply for planning consent to practice meditating in his own wood.

Meditation for 'Christmas rage'
Buddhists offer shoppers an oasis of tranquility at the BBC Big Screen to calm those Christmas nerves.

Buddhist monk helps rugby club
A Buddhist monk is drafted in to teach Caerphilly rugby club how to improve their game through the art of meditation.

Helping patients to relax
Kidney patients are being given a new way of relaxing before their treatment - meditation CDs.

Meditating on a cinema first
A new venture offers groups of people the chance to meditate in the darkened comfort of the multiplex.

Meditation lessons for pupils
A Buddhist charity offers meditation lessons to high school pupils in Cardiff in a move to help them de-stress.

Meditation 'good for brain'
Scientists say they have found evidence that meditation has a biological effect on the brain and immune system.

Caveman meditates to survive
A man who was picked to live like a hermit in a Staffordshire cave survives by meditating.

Thai prisoners reform through meditation
Thai authorities plan to expand a meditation course for prison inmates, after participants in a trial programme responded so positively.

India's meditative model jail
Delhi's Tihar jail, where staff and inmates have taken an holistic approach to reform and rehabilitation.

Meditate your way to success
Teachers are searching for ways to tackle classroom discipline. One experiment in California is having significant results.

Meditation mapped in monks
Snapshots of monks' brains provide clues as to what goes on inside the head during meditation.

Pupils meditate before lessons
Schools in Portsmouth are hoping meditation sessions will help reduce bad behaviour in the classroom.

Yoga 'can help asthmatics'
A type of meditation based on yoga may ease asthma

Harrison fans unite in meditation
Fans, friends and family of George Harrison take part in a minute's meditation as a mark of respect to the former Beatle.

Innerspace meets cyberspace
Researchers say virtual reality meditation could deliver inner peace more effectively than the traditional yoga mat.

Meditating against pain
A stress reduction specialist is setting out to teach hospital patients to deal with cancer, HIV and depression.

Prisoners benefit from meditation
A form of meditation is being successfully used to improve the behaviour and well-being of prison inmates, says a study.

Another Chinese spiritual group 'faces suppression'
A Hong Kong-based human rights group says the Chinese government is about to launch a campaign to suppress another another spiritual and meditation group similar to the Falungong movement.

China's perplexing crackdown
Beijing correspondent Duncan Hewitt wonders why the Falun Gong meditation movement is seen by the authorities as such a grave threat to society.

Chief Minister wants more yoga
The chief minister in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Chandra Babu Naidu, has asked his ministers and officials to adopt yoga and meditation to improve performance and reduce stress.

China raps US in sect row
Beijing has told the United States to stay out of its affairs after China was criticised for planning to prosecute leading members of the meditation sect Falun Gong.

Beijing justifies sect clampdown
Chinese leaders say the recent crackdown on the Falun Gong meditation sect was vital to maintain social stability.

Meditation lowers blood pressure
Transcendental meditation may be one way to keep the heart healthy, say researchers who have discovered how it keeps blood pressure low.

'Meditation could end Kosovo conflict'
The Natural Law Party in Wales has unveiled its campaign for the assembly elections by saying meditation could end the Kosovan conflict as well as problems of health and poverty in Wales.

School for winning poets
A school that teaches meditation shows the way on National Poetry Day, with prizes for four inspired pupils.

Satchidanand, Director of Energy Enhancement, is one of the leading teachers of Meditation.!

He helps people worldwide reach further than they EVER thought possible, FASTER!!!

http://www.energyenhancement.org

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Attacking TreatmentResistant Depression

Attacking Treatment-Resistant Depression
By Phyllis Wheeler

In some cases, medication for depression just simply does not work. The doctor gives you pills, you take them for a while, and you still feel down. In that case, here are a couple of possibilities to consider:

*You really have bipolar disorder, only the manic phase never happens.*You have pre-diabetes.

Let's examine these one by one.Bipolar disorder occassionally manifests itself as depression only. You feel depressed, you never have a manic episode, but your medications don't help. In that case, you could suggest to your doctor that you try bipolar meds. They are different, and if this is your condition, they will lift your depression.

Pre-diabetes can cause depression too. Excess insulin in your blood affects you, possibly making you tired, fuzzy in the head, and unable to feel joy. But medications don't help you, and unless someone clues you in, you stay depressed. In fact, you probably gain weight too. This is because excess insulin in your blood will also make you feel hungry.

So what is pre-diabetes? It used to be called a case of high insulin resistance. The cells in your body become resisitant to insulin, a hormone that helps deliver glucose to the cells as an energy source. So not only do the cells run out of energy, but the insulin level acks up in your bloodstream, becoming higher than it ought to be. Unfortunately, excess insulin tends to make your body parts wear out, and causes aging. You know those folks who live to a hale and hearty old age? They are the ones whose genes delivered them a good sugar-control system.

If you have pre-diabetes, your body limps along under these circumstances, sometimes for a long time. Eventually though you will become diabetic, unless you are able to lower the insulin levels in your blood (see below). Diabetes is a condition where the body's glucose control system breaks down. Glucose in the blood may go way up or way down. High glucose levels damage body organs. Low levels cause fainting.

How can you lower the insulin levels in your blood? There are two ways:*Limit carbs*Exercise.

It is the carbohydrates that cause your body to dump insulin into the bloodstream. So a low-carb diet will cut down on the amount of insulin your food is adding to what's already in your bloodstream. This is like cutting down on the amount of water you are dumping into a plugged-up kitchen sink.

Exercise causes the cells to accept insulin and the glucose it carries. This is like opening the drain in the kitchen sink so that more water will go out. You know those hale and hearty old timers? Many of them exercise regularly. It's something to think about!

So why might you be pre-diabetic? It's probably a hereditary condition for you. Or, possibly your eating habits have caused it. If you are hooked on sweets, you have been bathing your system with lots of insulin to control the blood sugar level. That insulin makes you hungry, and so you eat more sweets. It also causes your body, including your joints, to age. Overeating can cause overweight, which triggers Type II diabetes. So beware!

About the author
Phyllis Wheeler is writer of computer resources for homeschoolers. Shesuffered from treatment-resistantdepression for nine years. Find plenty of articles aboutdepression at http://www.BeatDepressionNow.blogspot.com.

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Pet Depression and Separation Anxiety

Pet Depression and Separation Anxiety
By Ian White

Pets develop emotional bonds to their human owners and when separated from them, pets may suffer from depression and separation anxiety. There are times when it becomes necessary to be separated from a pet such as when having to be hospitalized or taking a vacation. As much as we may hate being away from a beloved pet, it may actually be a more stressful experience for the animal.

Most people develop comfort zones and tend to resist change because it disrupts their level of comfort even when the change is positive. Many of us dont realize that our pets can and often do react in similar ways. They also have their own comfort zones and become closely bonded with the people within their home territory.

When separation occurs and the pet deeply misses those he is closest to, depression may set in. It is not uncommon for a pet to grieve itself to death when its owner dies. Pets can withdraw, become extremely quiet or in some cases even be a bit hostile when separated from the owner.

If separation is unavoidable, for instance, when the owner has to be admitted to the hospital, it is best to try and make arrangements for the pet to be kept by someone such as a friend or family member that the pet is familiar and comfortable with. That way the pets stay should be less stressful for both the pet and the owner.

Although many pet owners take their pets along with them on vacation, others may not choose to do so or perhaps cannot do so for various reasons. Those who do not take their pets along on vacation will need to find a reliable caretaker to look after their pet while they are gone.

Another option to consider is a house sitter. Pets are likely to be more comfortable in their owners absence if they remain in familiar surroundings rather than being transported to the home of a friend or relative. If possible, it may be a good idea to see if someone you trust and that your pet knows well enough to be comfortable with would be willing to be your house sitter in your absence.

Pets that become depressed when separated from their owners may refuse to eat or drink and may become lethargic. When there is a strong attachment between pet and owner even being separated for a short length of time can cause the pet a fair amount of anxiety. The stress caused by the separation can produce symptoms of physical illness.

If you must leave your pet with someone else during a planned absence such as a vacation, take your pet along with you for a visit to the persons house that will be caring for the animal, several times in the weeks before you leave. This will give your pet an opportunity to inspect the house, become accustomed to the surroundings and also it will give the animal a chance to interact with the people and any pets in the home. It is better to give your pet a chance to get to know the place where he will be staying rather than abruptly moving him to a strange place at the last minute and then leaving him. It will make the transition easier and hopefully more pleasant for everyone involved.

Copyright 2006, Ian White Access 2000 Pty pty ltd

Author Ian White is founder of pet-sitters.biz Pet Sitting Directory.Post free pet sitter needed ad or find a pet sitter in your local area.

Matching pet lovers with Pet Sitters in your local area.

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Nutrition and Depression

Nutrition and Depression
By Jaklina Trajcevska

Depression is a real illness which affects so many people. In fact, many people will, at some stage in their life feel the effects of some form of depression.

Depression usually occurs when there is a chemical imbalance in the brain. The imbalance occurs with serotonin - an important neurotransmitter, which helps to transfer messages throughout the structures of the brain's nerve cells. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that controls how we feel - happy or sad. If the levels of serotonin are awry, depression can result.

Anti-depressants work by regulating the amount of serotonin, to keep the brain functioning properly and keep depression at bay.

The advice below may be a means to assist those with mild to moderate depression, who are not already taking medication, but it can be an adjunct to conventional treatment, for those taking medication.

Please consult your medical practitioner if you would like to try any of the following (as it may interfere with your medication - either anti-depressants or other medication).

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is another useful nutrient and is the precursor to tryptophan - this means your body needs to have enough Vitamin B6 in order to make tryptophan (which is an essential amino acids - meaning the body cannot manufacture it and it is necessary to be taken in from foods ingested). Vitamin B6 can be taken in the form of a supplement or through foods high in vitamin B6, such as: yellowfin tuna, beef liver, potato, fortified cereals, banana, chicken breast.

Tryptophan

There are some foods which actually help the body make happy hormones - these foods are: low fat meat (chicken / turkey especially), milk and other low fat dairy, eggs. The happy hormone is tryptophan, an essential amino acids which helps to regulate levels of serotonin in the brain and has the effect of making a person feel happier.

Exercise

Study after study has shown that moderate and regular exercise will help with mild to moderate depression to the same level as medication. The only hard thing to do is to actually get up and do the exercise, which is hard if you feel even a little down. Just try to do it and you will soon start to feel a little better with each session.

Avoid Refined Sugar to Regulate Blood Sugar Levels

If your sugar levels are erratic from high intakes of highly refined and sugary foods, this will wreak havoc on your emotional stability.

Foods that contain high levels of sugar (or are highly refined carbohydrates) make your blood sugar levels go too high very quickly and then drop again very quickly. This is not good for healthy individuals, but worse if you have any type of mental or physical affliction, due to the detrimental effects of the sugar fluctuations.

It is well known that not having stable and consistent sugar levels is not beneficial in many ways and can make a person feel anxious and nervous (low sugar levels), while high sugar levels can create artificial euphoria and feeling like one is drunk. Keeping your sugar levels consistent, by eating wholesome, healthy foods, with a little, low fat, good quality protein at each meal, will really go a long way to ensuring your depression is not exacerbated.

Always eat breakfast - have some cereal, milk and fruit, or eggs and fruit. Try to make sure you eat some healthy snacks in between your main meals (good snacks are some crispbread with some hommous or some low fat cheese and tomatoes or some nuts and fresh fruit).

Routine

Get a regular routine going - try to do the same things at the same time - this will help you by ensuring your life is stable and consistent.

Have Medical Tests

There are several health conditions that can have depression as a symptom - so you should ensure that you have had a full medical check up to rule out any of those conditions.

For more information about health and nutrition, visit: www.vitalhealthzone.com

Jaklina Trajcevska is the creator of http://www.vitalhealthzone.com, an informational web site which aims to educate people about nutrition and health. Jaklina Trajcevska is passionate about nutrition and health and has a BSc degree.

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A Guide to Omega 3 and Depression

A Guide to Omega 3 and Depression
By Dan Ho

Natural remedies for depression...

Because of the negative side-effects associated with prescription anti-depressants, many people suffering from the symptoms of mild to moderate depression are looking at natural remedies. Several studies over the last seven years have established that there is a link between Omega 3 and depression relief.

In three of these studies involving dietary supplementation of Omega 3 fatty acids, which are found in several food sources including olive oil and especially fish oil, depression was often lifted somewhat after four weeks and greatly relieved after six to eight weeks. The results of studies using both EPA and DHA were more promising than the studies which used either of these two fatty acids alone.

Depression can also be a symptom of a vitamin deficiency, particularly a dietary deficiency of the B-complex, so a multi-vitamin supplement is often also suggested as one of the natural remedies for depression in addition to fish oils.

Other natural remedies and depression relief techniques include a regular exercise program, adequate sleep, meditation and eating a balanced healthy diet, rich in fruits, vegetables (particularly leafy greens) and fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines.

Fish Oil Depression

One fish that especially naturally high in crucial DHA and EPA is called the Hoki, which is native to the deep waters off of the coast of New Zealand. Hoki is used in some of the highest quality fish oil supplements.

In short, people looking for Omega 3 and depression relief may want to look into fish oils made from Hoki.

Fortunately, in recent years, much more has been written on the subject of natural remedies for depression relief, omega 3 and depression relief and the fish oil depression link. Users Guide to Natural Remedies for Depression by Linda Knittel contains information on easing and preventing depression and advice on when to seek professional help.

Depression can be a very serious mental disorder and anyone suffering from it should seek professional advice from a physician, psychiatrist or psychologist.

Anyone who is currently taking an anti-depressant should consult their physician before trying certain herbs which are often touted for depression like St. Johns wort or SAM-e.

These natural remedies and depression medications, although effective for many, can also cause side effects. Supplements of Omega 3 and depression prescriptions are often taken at the same time, but it's never advisable to do so unless you let your doctor know first.

Get more information about Omega 3 and Depression and learn how to choose a high quality fish oil supplement at: Fish Oil Depression.

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Trapped by Depression?

Trapped by Depression?
By Stan Lewis

If you have a sound sense of purpose for your life, it is more difficult for you to find yourself trapped by depression the hustle and bustle of today's workplace. The way to have this sound sense of purpose is to have an understanding of priorities, set your priorities, and maintain your priorities by setting reasonable life goals.

Depression is a state of unhappiness and hopelessness. With depression, comes feelings of dejection, lack of energy, sleeplessness, and, sometimes, suicidal tendencies. Depression is a trap that can catch you in two different ways. First, it can wear on you when you do not know what your sense of purpose is. Second, when you have a purpose, but, for whatever reason, you have lost focus regarding your purpose in life.

When you do not know what your sense of purpose in life you have no direction for your life. At best this will leave you with feelings of uncertainty and at worst it will leave you with feelings of hopelessness. It is important that you pray about your purpose in life. That you seek out your personal gifts or talents and then develop them. As you both develop your skills and seek God's will, God will point you towards your niche in life. It is also important to set your priorities of God first, then your spouse & family, your job, your personal ministry, etc. This will help to keep you focused as you carry out God's purpose for your life.

When we lose focus in our lives, it is usually because we have, in some way, disregarded our priorities. God needs to be first among our priorities. His word says we are to love God with all of our heart and all of our might.

Our next priority should be our spouse (or if your single, your family). In both words and action, we need to keep them readily aware that they are loved, cherished and important. We most make quality time to pour ourselves into our spouse and our children lives.

Next should be our jobs. Many would think that our personal ministry would come next, but that is not so. Our job is our means to support God's house with tithes/offerings and to support our families. We should do our jobs as if we are working for God himself. That means always seeking to personally grow and develop your talents.

Lastly you should find a place in God's house to serve others and give of yourself. When you open yourself to serve others, God will give you direction as to where to serve. You will get more out of it than you ever put into serving others.

There are forces in this world that will affect your thinking. Once this is done, Satan will seek to change your focus. If he can change your focus, he can affect your emotions. No longer are you pursuing your purpose through your priorities. The further and further you move from your purpose, the more it will bring negative emotions to surface. The negative emotions expose you to the abrasive nature of unhappiness and hopelessness. As unhappiness and hopelessness wear away at you, you begin to lose energy and the ability to find peace - to be at rest.

This is the trap of depression and it is something that many of us can slide into. Sometimes it's a slow slide and sometimes it is a rapid slide into depression, but if unchanged it can have a devastating effect upon not only you, but those who are close to you.

So ask God for direction in your life. There is no woman or man, which God has not given a gift or talents to. You need to discover the marvelous talents he has given you. Then develop and grow them with a personal coach or mentor. Then set your priorities and life goals so that you have a positive focus for your life. There is a saying, ...it is hard to stop a good man that keeps on coming. Ladies - men, it is going to be hard to stop you if you maintain your purpose and priorities. If you are feeling lost, then set yourself free by setting priorities and goals for yourself. After doing so, stick with your priorities - your goals and you will find that you have escaped the trap of depression. Maintaining your focus with Godly purposes and priorities will greatly aid you in avoiding the snare of depression.

Copyright 2006 Stan Lewis

Stan Lewis is a Christian Leadership & Life Coach. If you liked this article, you should really check out his new Thinking Style assessment by Clicking Here - http://www.assessmentgenerator.com/H/cRstanlewis1134788755.html If you would like a complimentary chat to talk about any issue, goal setting, or problems Click here - http://realleadership4coachinglife.com/wstpage3.html Please take advantage of other FREEBIES by at http://www.realcoach.org

Questions about this article or you need assistance, please call me at 214-629-7217

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Depression: Checklist of Symptoms for Adults and Children

Depression: Checklist of Symptoms for Adults and Children
By Rita Milios

Are you feeling low? Have you lost interest in activities that you used to enjoy? You may be suffering from depression. And youre not alone. Between 9 and 14 million Americans suffer from some form of depressive illness. One in four women and one in 10 men can expect to develop depression in their lifetimes. Children, too, are affected by depression. Approximately one in 33 children and one in eight adolescents exhibit signs of depression, yet, less than one third of these children ever receive treatment.

So what are the signs of depression? Symptoms differ for adults and children. Following are some simple checklists that can help you determine if you or your child might be at risk for depression. When reviewing the checklists, consider the following: How long have the symptoms been present? How severe are the symptoms? Are the symptoms getting worse over time? Do you feel unable to cope with yourself or with you childs symptoms? In general, if symptoms last more than two weeks without letting up, you or your child may be experiencing clinical depression rather than just the blues. In children, excessive or chronic moodiness, withdrawal from normal activities or aggressive behaviors should be considered warning signs. Of course, teens are often moody and irritable, but if these symptoms are chronic and unrelenting, there may be more to it than the normal teenage angst. A good guideline is: symptoms should be checked out by a professional if they cause disruption in normal daily activities. When in doubt, always consult a mental health professional, such as a clinical social worker (LISW, clinical counselor (LPCC), psychologist or psychiatrist.

Recent studies have shown that there is no one medication that is consistently superior to another in treating depression, and medication alone has about the same success rate (approximately 50%) as psychotherapy alone. However, both together have about an 80% success rate. For people with chronic depression, who choose not to continue medication over a long period (more than one year), cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to reduce relapse rates from about 80% (with no treatment) to 25%.

Depression Symptom Checklist: Adults

. Persistent sad, anxious or empty mood

Loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities, including sex

Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling slowed down

Sleep problems (insomnia, oversleeping, early-morning waking)

Eating problems (loss of appetite or weight, weight gain)

Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism

Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

Thoughts of death or suicide; a suicide attempt *

Irritability

Excessive crying

Recurring aches and pains that don't respond to treatment

Depression Symptom Checklist: Child/Adolescent

Persistent sadness

Withdrawal from family, friends and activities that were once enjoyed

Increased irritability or agitation

Changes in eating and sleeping habits (e.g., significant weight loss, insomnia, excessive sleep)

Frequent physical complaints, such as headaches and stomachaches

Lack of enthusiasm or motivation

Decreased energy level and chronic fatigue

Play that involves excessive aggression toward self or others, or that involves persistently sad themes

Indecision, lack of concentration or forgetfulness

Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt

Recurring thoughts of death or suicide *

(Source: National Mental Health Association)

* Immediately seek help with a mental health professional, crisis center, or doctor if suicidal symptoms are present.

Rita Milios, the Mind Mentor, is a psychotherapist, author and speaker on topics of mind, behavior and creativity. She is the author of Tools for Transformation, Discovering Positive Thinking, and more than two dozen other books. View more helpful articles at http://www.ritamilios.com/

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Depression Write Your Way Out

Depression - Write Your Way Out
By Michael Russell

Most of us feel depressed, or down at some time in our lives but, fortunately, it's usually short lived. Some people, however, are unable to shake off their feelings of depression and are diagnosed as Clinically Depressed.

Many types of drugs and pills are prescribed but they often lead to addiction in addition to depression, thus creating a never ending downward spiral. Thousands, and possibly millions, of patients are convinced they'll never recover which only adds to their sense of low-self esteem.

Today, people suffering from depression seek alternative remedies such as acupuncture and various therapies. Cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the most popular as it encourages people to view their problems from a different perspective. It is one of the most successful therapies but is not always easily available on a continuous basis which is essential if the patient is to benefit.

People who struggle financially can find this particular therapy difficult to obtain on an ongoing basis as their appointments may be weeks apart. Wealthier people, of course, don't encounter such problems as they have sufficient money for private treatment. Everybody would agree this is unjust but, regrettably, life is frequently unfair.

There are other methods of coping, such as self-help groups which some people find incredibly supportive. Friends and relatives can also provide a shoulder to cry on but very few are able to provide long term support because they are emotionally too close to the patient. The majority of friends and relatives find it hard to be objective, and some of them even go so far as to tell those suffering from depression o snap out of it. This is fatal as this is exactly what they want to do but are unable to do so.

One of the best ways of coping with depression is to enrol on a Creative Writing Course. Not an obvious way of coping, it must be said, but one that can produce amazing results. People who enrol on these courses are not required to have any qualifications apart from, obviously, a desire to write. The reason these courses are so successful lies in the fact that people who attend them have to think about matters other than their problems for a couple of hours. This concentrates the mind wonderfully and allows people to perceive things in a different way which is reminiscent of the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy.

The courses cover story writing, poetry, stage, screen and radio plays plus the outlines of writing a novel. Topics include characterisation, plot, dialogue plus a host of other subjects. Each and every one can offer countless ways whereby people are able to release their innermost thoughts, desires and anxieties, so relieving considerable tension. Poetry offers one of the best methods of expressing emotion which in itself is extremely cathartic.

Listening to other people's views is also particularly therapeutic as, again, this distances people who are depressed from dwelling on their troubles, affording them a welcome respite. Creative Writing Courses really do expand the mind and leave it open to new experiences which are of tremendous benefit to any one suffering from low self-esteem. Writing, by it's very nature, depends on self expression which often helps people to understand their feelings which may have been repressed for years. This can result in a completely new outlook on life itself. It is simply a question of being receptive to new ideas but the rewards can be huge. In a nutshell, minds become focused on looking outwards, rather than inwards, when involved in the process of writing. In accomplishing such an achievement, creative writing must count as one of the best treatments in helping people to overcome depression. Enrol on that course today! You'll find it can change your life.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Depression

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5 Quick Ways To Ease Stress Depression & Anxiety

5 Quick Ways To Ease Stress, Depression & Anxiety
By Chris Green

No ceremony with this article, lets go straight into five quick ways that will help you find relief from stress, depression and anxiety.

1. Take regular breaks from the firing line. Working hard without regular breaks is a great way to build up stress and tension. Make sure you have at least one 15-minute break in the morning and one in the afternoon as well as at least 20 minutes for lunch. If possible, eat lunch away from your workstation. Equally, if you have a lot to deal with in your life right now, taking a day, or a weekend elsewhere longer if you can - to get some breathing space will really help. Even just a day away from the firing line will enable you to get some distance from the problems and help you to gather your thoughts.

2. Regular exercise can help relieve stress, depression and anxiety. Exercise releases endorphins into your system and will give you a natural boost. It will also provide you with a break from brooding and dwelling upon problems and troubles but only if you perform the right kind of exercises. Avoid: Exercises that allow you to brood (weight lifting, jogging, treadmills) and perform exercises that require your full concentration. Competitive sports such as squash, tennis, badminton and circuit training are all excellent examples. It is important that you do not brood when you exercise because although you will be benefiting physically, you are still stressing yourself mentally and the stress, depression and anxiety will worsen.

3. Stop beating yourself up. Self-deprecation is a huge part of stress, depression and anxiety. Each time you beat up on yourself, you will erode confidence and self-esteem. Never tell yourself youre useless, worthless, stupid, hopeless, boring, ugly, and a loser. Never convince yourself that other people hate you, that others find you difficult to be around and that youre better off being alone. You would never deem it acceptable to say such things to other people and you must deem it equally unacceptable to say them to yourself. These words and phrases are powerful and they will hurt you. Accept youre not perfect and that you make mistakes just like everybody else does and cut yourself some slack. From this day, make a pact with me to never indulge self-deprecation ever again. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

4. Isolation is another problem experienced by stress, depression and anxiety sufferers. OK, there will be times when you just want your own company. During such times, you can brood over and over again on problems and events and beat yourself up for hours on end. Not good. Instead, use isolation more positively. Occupy your mind by tackling a jigsaw puzzle, a logic problem, a crossword, read a book or perform a hobby such as painting, playing a musical instrument or whatever it is you have an interest in. In this way, isolation will help you to grow instead of causing you further pain.

5. Television, radio and newspapers can all supply you with a daily hit of negativity and help lower your mood. In the main, they concentrate on the negative side of life: crime, corruption, war, scandal and natural disasters and can give you a distorted view of reality. Not to mention the amount of image manipulation they subject you to. Give yourself a break from this negative drip feed and avoid them completely for one week. You may find, like I have, that they have no place in your life after that. Trust me, you wont miss them.

Thats five, quick tips for you to help fight stress, depression and anxiety. Please give them a try, theyll all help to boost your mood levels very quickly indeed.

Copyright 2006 Christopher Green

Former anxiety sufferer Chris Green is the author of Conquering Stress, the internationally acclaimed program which will help you to permanently conquer stress, depression and anxiety without taking powerful drugs. For a free mini course, please click here => http://www.conqueringstress.com

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Depression Glass Patterns

Depression Glass Patterns
By Murray Hughes

Collectors of Depression Glass find not only its beautifulcolors fascinating, but its patterns, as well. With manyglass producers making this type of glass, as you canimagine, many patterns resulted, creating a wide array ofpretty, practical, and inexpensive glassware affordable toevery American household in that lean era of history andmaking Depression Glass one of the most collectible itemstoday.

Of the many glass manufacturers that produced DepressionGlass, seven of them became major players in the field,creating a total of 92 designs. Below youll find somehistory, some trivia, some folklore, and some interestingcharacteristics about several of these designs.

Pattern: Cameo

This Depression Glass design, sometimes referred to asBallerina or Dancing Girl, gets its name from the tinydancer found on all its pieces. Some claim the HockingGlass Company that manufactured Cameo glass created thepattern to honor the legendary modern dancer of the 1920s,Isadora Duncan, who tragically died when her long trailingscarf, of which shed made her personal trademark, chokedher to death when it wrapped around the wheel of her movingBugatti roadster.

Duncan died in 1927, and the Cameo pattern came into beingin 1930, continuing to be produced until 1934, so the storycould very well be true. Regardless of the inspiration forthis pattern of Depression Glass, it continues as a muchsought-after design. Hocking made most Cameo glass ingreen, but pink, yellow, and more rarely crystal, whichcan occasionally still be found.

Pattern: Avocado

First produced in 1923, the Avocado or Sweet Pear patternclaims its fame for being the very first 'true' Depression Glassdesign. Made by the Indiana Glass Company, Avocado piecesin the form of pitchers prove to be the most difficult tofind, possibly because of this patterns age. Indianacontinued manufacturing Avocado for 10 years, until thecompany retired this Art Nouveau-type design in 1933.

Pattern: Royal Lace

The Hazel-Atlas Glass Company began producing Royal Laceduring 1934 as a set consisting of 28 pieces. Today, RoyalLace holds the honor of being some of the costliest Depressionglass that collectors covet. Hazel-Atlas manufactured RoyalLace in crystal (clear) and in five colors: green, yellow,pink, blue, and burgundy. The most desirable colorconsistently proves to be the blue, called Ritz Blue by thecompany, which actually came about as an economic accident.

When General Mills ended a deal with Hazel-Atlas usingblue-colored glass in a Shirley Temple promotional campaignin 1936, Hazel-Atlas simply poured the leftover vats ofmolten blue glass into its existing Royal Lace molds toavoid wasting it. An instant success resulted. Blue RoyalLace Depression Glass reigns to this day as 1 of the most soughtafter and is now 1 of the most expensive of all the otherDepression Glass patterns.

These samplings of interesting Depression Glass trivia makecollecting it all that more appealing. After all, how manyother pieces of glassware can be found in peoples homesthat come with a ready-made story at least those peoplein the median income range (Were not talking Tiffany orLalique here!)? And these have been gleaned from a meresampling of the plethora of Depression Glass designs thathave survived over the years. Imagine what stories can befound!

The next time you gaze at that lovely piece of Depressionglass resting in the window of your favorite antique dealeror if youre lucky sitting on a dusty shelf at a fleamarket just waiting for you to discover it, remember:Whatever pattern it is, a good chance exists that it, too,will have a fascinating history.

So take a chance. Buy it!

Until next time,

Murray Hughes
http://www.DepressionGlassSecrets.com

http://www.depressionglasssecrets.com/DPweb-articles/depression-glass-patterns.htm

If you enjoyed this article by Murray Hughes, then visit Depression Glass Patterns now and enrolin the free Depression Glass course The 5 Essential StepsTo Becoming A Depression Glass CollectorFor AOL users: Depression Glass Secrets

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5 Facts You Need To Know About Depression

5 Facts You Need To Know About Depression
By Chris Green

Around 18 million US citizens suffer from stress, depression and anxiety every year and for many of them, understanding why they endure the torment is difficult to establish. This is because of the many magic bullet myths associated with these problems. Here are five such myths along with the root cause as to why stress, anxiety and depression arise.

1. Chemical imbalances within the brain. This is a theory with no proven clinical evidence to support it. The theory alleges that low levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain cause people to suffer from anxiety, stress or depression. Drug therapy is used to treat the imbalance. But there is no test to establish levels of these chemicals before patients are prescribed drugs and therefore, no way of knowing which chemicals are depleted and which ones arent. So theres no way of measuring success either. Another issue: Over seventy percent of people who stop taking antidepressants enter into second and further episodes of stress, anxiety or depression. For another one third, they are totally ineffective. But if chemical imbalances havent been proven to cause these problems, why are they being treated?

2. Nutritionally deficient diet, either not eating enough fresh food or eating way too much junk food. There are many people throughout the world who dont eat a good diet. Most of our forefathers wouldve struggled to eat the recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Does this mean all of these people suffered from stress, depression or anxiety? Highly unlikely. And I know people whose diet is largely junk and they dont suffer from stress, depression or anxiety. Also, does it mean that everybody who eats a nutritionally sound diet wont suffer from these problems? Again, and I include myself in this, there are people who eat a balanced, nutritionally sound diet but suffer from stress, depression or anxiety. Why?

3. Toxins. The premise here is that as our air is polluted, containing harmful, poisonous or toxic chemicals, the air we breathe is causing more and more people to enter into stressful or depressive episodes. If that is the case, then everybody who lives in a modern city New York, LA, Tokyo, Athens, Paris, London, Mexico City, Rome, Berlin, Chicago, Moscow, etc. must all be enduring the misery of mental torment because each of them breathe the same polluted air. Is this so? Of course not. And by the same rule, does it mean that if you live outside polluted cities, in coastal towns or villages in the beautiful countryside etc. then youre immune from mental trauma? Certainly it does not.

4. Trauma. This means that if you encounter a traumatic event, say death of a loved one, or moving home or relationship breakdown for example, such an event can cause stress, depression or anxiety. But such events happen to every human being and not all of them become depressed. This means that events cannot cause these problems, but the way we respond to them can.

5. Genetics. If your parents suffered these problems, you will too. This does hold a little truth. Because while there is no genetic link to these problems, you can learn the modes of behavior that cause these problems from parents throughout childhood. So, if your parents reacted to events in their lives in ways that caused them to be stressed, depressed or anxious, you will learn them too. The good news is that just as you learned them you can unlearn them.

The problem with all of the above is that they shift focus from outside yourself to try and find a magic bullet (drugs, diet, events, genetics, toxins) when the answer to them lies within yourself. None of the above can cause depression and therefore, you cannot find a cure by addressing them. Curing stress, depression and anxiety can only be done by treating the root cause and that root cause lies in the way you make sense out of everything in your life.

Once the root cause has been successfully addressed using a combination of knowledge, understanding and personal skills, stress, depression and anxiety will never cause you anguish ever again.

Copyright 2006 Christopher Green

Former anxiety sufferer Chris Green is the author of Conquering Stress, the internationally acclaimed program which will help you to permanently conquer stress, depression and anxiety without taking powerful drugs. For a free mini course, please click here => http://www.conqueringstress.com

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5 Ways To Ease Depression

5 Ways To Ease Depression
By Chris Green

For many people who suffer from depression, or stress or anxiety, the only way to find relief is by taking antidepressants. Sometimes they help, often they dont. Heres five far more effective but wholly natural ways you can use to help you lift the fog of a depressive episode. And unlike a bottle of drugs, you can use these techniques for the rest of your life.

1. Start and end each day in a positive way. Listen to upbeat music, and avoid reading or watching anything too heavy. For example, starting the day by watching an hour-long news bulletin filled with images of war, crime and disasters is not a good way to brighten your mood. Instead, turn off the TV and play some easy-listening music. 70s disco works for me, as does R & B. Beats watching war and violence over breakfast. Also, try not to listen to heavy music or read something heavy a horror story for example before you retire to bed. These are simple techniques to cut down your exposure to negative influences but they are highly effective and will improve your moods very quickly.

2. Take a daily 20-minute time-out from the firing line to rest. Turn off mobile phones and pagers, switch off the mind, relax and just enjoy the peace and quiet. Life isnt about being on a treadmill 24/7. Give your mental well-being a boost by shutting everything and everyone out for 20 minutes and youll feel much calmer.

3. Accept change. Change is the one constant in life and refusing to accept change will be harmful. Embrace changes and use them as an opportunity to grow. And remember, change isnt what causes us problems, its how we react to it. You can choose to react positively or negatively. Choose wisely.

4. Try not to assign single negative outcomes to problems. Single negative outcomes are rarely true and will trigger the fear response. Generate multiple outcomes to problems and work towards more positive solutions. Rarely will a single, negative outcome be true and if you take a step back and take your time to assign a meaning, you will generate more positive solutions.

5. Sometimes, its hard to cope with life. During these times, the plate is already full. Dont pile the plate higher by making major, life-altering decisions. Postpone changes at work, relationship commitments, house moves etc. until the plate is less full and control has been regained.

Give the above techniques a try and theyll bring benefits to your health almost immediately. But theyll only work for you if you put them to action. Start right now and watch the fog begin to lift.

Until next time.

Copyright 2006 Christopher Green

Chris Green is the author of Conquering Stress, a special program which will show you how to conquer stress, depression and anxiety without taking powerful drugs. For a free e-course please click here http://www.conqueringstress.com

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Teenage Depression: Is It Just a Phase in Growth?

Teenage Depression: Is It Just a Phase in Growth?
By Foras Aje

We all remember when we were teenagers. Boy, what a phase in our lives.What with the need for peer acceptance, parental expectations, raging hormones, acne... Its no wonder teenage depression exists in such high numbers.

From research and even mere observation, teenage depression actually manifests itself differently from adult or childhood depression as during this age, teens want to start to mark their territorial signs of independence and the last thing a teen may want to do is admit they need help for depression. Teenagers tend not to display gloom, self-depreciation, or talk about feeling hopeless like adults do during this stage of their lives if they are depressed, so as a parent or adult role-model you may need to watch for other signs of depression in the teenager you are dealing with.

Teenage Depression: Symptoms to watch out for

Though the signs of teenage depression may vary in both sexes, here are some symptoms that are common to both male and female teens battling with depression.

1. Excessive negativity and antisocial behaviors.

2. Wanting to leave home or retreat to their rooms constantly.

3. Inattention to personal appearance.

4. A lack of desire to co-operate in family get-togethers and activities.

Signs of Teenage Depression in Males:

1. Increasing in aggression and agitation.

2. A higher tendency to get in trouble with school or the law.

3. Reckless behavior such as uncontrolled use of illegal substances.

Signs of Teenage Depression in Females:

1. Less attention to their appearance.

2. Pre-occupation with death and themes of suicide.

3. Excessive promiscuity or an extreme isolation from members of their opposite sex.

Although this is not a conclusive list of the signs of teenage depression one should look out for in teens, the ones listed above are the most common ones. In addition to these depression symptoms in regards to teenager, other ones may include a lower self-esteem than average, referrals to suicide (in extreme cases) and a general negative outlook on life.

It indeed may be challenging to cope with as an adult to deal with a depressed teenager as its a catch 22 situation, they want to be independent as teens, yet they need your help.Well, this may be a good time to simply take charge, albeit with care and caution as we are dealing with delicate and sensitive emotions here and reach out to help.

Teenage Depression: Solutions for coping with depression in your teen

1. If necessary, seek professional help. I lean more towards drug-free alternatives so meetings with competent Pastors, guidance counselors, teachers and therapists may suffice to at least get a diagnosisif you need one.

2. Talk to your teens friends and or their parents, although this approach requires care, remember, they are starting to declare independence and snooping around on them may be defeating the purpose of reaching them, so do this with care and tact.

3. Suggest one-on-one outings with phrases like: hey, how about a game of basket ball, just you and I..? or Hey how about us girls take a trip to the Mall?If they refuse, dont appear too crushed; simply respond with an understanding okay maybe some other time

4. Ask if there is anything theyd like to discuss and this will be a great time to be more of the listener and less of the talker as soon as they start to open up.

5. Dont be what youve not always been to your teen, in other words being overlynice or Bill Cosby-ish (no pun intended Mr. Cosby) , trust me, theyll see right through the act and may withdraw even more.

6. Watch for signs of suicide (in extreme cases) and if there is the slightest indication, double up your efforts to reach your teen. It helps if youve been close as parent and child from the beginning.

7. In the hopes things are not as extreme, soon as they manifest signs of reaching out, help, be there. Incorporate such limbs of a natural treatment for depression as exercise, proper diet and positive thoughts and affirmations.

8. Set a good example of being upbeat around your teen as much as possible. This can also be more of preventive measure if any.

9. Prayer. If you are spiritual, pray and it doesnt hurt and can help immensely to ask your depressed teen to join. Where two or more are gathered in My name, there will I be. Keep that promise from Above in mind-it works.

Teenage depression may wear a different mask from all other types, but it is essentially the same and with the proper steps taken can be overcome. Do not panic, however, be strong and there for your teen and in applying the steps above with other suggestions or creative ideas you deem right as an adult dealing with a depressed teen, you will be able to steer him or her back to a positive outlook on life.

Foras Aje is an independent health researcher and founder of Bodyhealthsoul.com. For more information on Depression Treatment, feel free to stop by his website today.

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Writers and Depression

Writers and Depression
By Marie Seymour

Is depression really the curse of genius? Research shows that writers and other creatives do suffer from depression at a higher rate than the rest of the population. And they, along with others born with creative gifts have a much higher rate of suicide.

Writing is not the glamorous profession it may appear to be. Rejection, deadlines, self-doubt and many hours spent in isolation can eventually push you over the edge. Plus lack of exercise and being stuck indoors staring at a computer screen all day doesn't help either. Success as a writer also means you have to rely on the opinions of other people such as editors, publishers and agents, which makes things even worse.

I'm not claiming to be a genius but I am a creative person and a depressive. My depression affects my creativity. Sometimes it is good for it, sometimes it's bad. Normally, when everything gets dark and gloomy for me I tend to go into myself and I begin to question everything. I can't deny that I've always seen the world differently, that I tend to see all the negatives about it rather than the positives. Sometimes I am aware that I may be too pessimistic and when I'm accused of this I always say that I'm only being realistic. I know that when I'm in this state of mind people don't want to be around me, but that's fine because I don't want to be around people. Pessimistic thoughts can ruin my writing though. Especially if I am doubting my talent as a writer, which is often.

During this time dark thoughts enter my head and I ask myself just what is the point of writing as I won't get published. Anyway, who would want to publish such rubbish? Me a writer? Ha! I'm just a talentless depressed person living in a world of make believe because I can't face the real world. I might as well end it right now. And the thoughts torment me all day, adding to the feeling of hopelessness, the future looking bleak.

But I don't give up. I don't kill myself, even if the thought does cross my mind. This is because I know from experience that this dark period won't last. In a few days my writing will start getting good again. The dark cloud will lift and I will think differently. I will start to believe in myself again. Of course I can write. Of course I can get published. If others can get book deals so can I. After all, there are worse writers in the world than me and they're published and successful.

And when I do eventually emerge from the pit of depression, to my surprise, I am struck by a short burst of creative energy that lasts from around three days to a whole week. Sometimes I'll have two or three projects on the go because the ideas just keep flooding in and I can't stop them. This is a great feeling and I can't wait to get out of bed and put in those extra hours of writing. It's not that my depression has worn off, it just gets a little more manageable. I still feel sadness, but it's not as intense.

Sometimes though I don't wait for this moment to arrive. Instead, I try to write myself through a depressive episode, even though it's the last thing I feel like doing. If I'm angry it's even better as I can use this anger in my fiction.

It is said that writers are depressed because they work for long periods alone. But this isn't my problem because I actually enjoy my own company. I accept that this is part of a writer's life and if I spent all my time socializing no writing would ever get done. It's nice to have other writer friends though, so I would recommend joining a writers' group or participating in one of the many writers' forums on the Internet.

I do sometimes wonder if being a writer is a curse, but then I think how would I be if I didn't write? It's such a large part of me. It's what makes me who I am as an individual. I'm sure other writers can understand what I mean. I don't think you choose to write. It chooses you. And I do question what type of writer I'd be without my depression. Who knows? Maybe I wouldn't be a writer. That's something I can't answer I'm afraid.

If you are depressed please don't suffer in silence. See your doctor for professional medical advice.

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Practical SpiritualityDealing With Depression IIIB

Practical SpiritualityDealing With Depression IIIB
By John Gilmore

In Practical Spirituality IIIA we discussed ways to improve your social life. We mainly focused on how you could find the right group of people. We explored choosing to interact with friends and peer groups with the right qualities, instead of just engaging with any group, especially those who considered themselves the in group. We also spoke of letting go of groups that might be damaging to your psyche. In this entry we will explore ways that you can use to prepare yourself to interact with you new found group. Are you a quiet contemplative person, or a shy person, are you a person with a lot of anger or one who is very confrontational? Does this get in you way sometimes?.

In our journal on Dealing With Anger, we addressed ways that you can change anger to a more positive and productive type of energy. You can stop being confrontational and become a loving person through the exercise of Tang Lin as described in that previous entry. Tang Lin can also be done to change fear and shyness. The main idea here, however, is that you can take control of your life and your behaviors. When you see a person that is very likeable and socially active, someone that you would like to be like, look at the way that they interact with other people. Study their behavior; that person can be your model for behavior.

You will probably notice how relaxed they are. You will probably notice they have the gift to draw other people out in the conversation, and they know when to disclose information about themselves. In order to be this way you have to fully accept yourself. If you dont think your own life is interesting you wont say much about yourself. If you dont think that other peoples lives are interesting you will talk too much about yourself and wont allow them to say anything about their lives. I guess the main point in interacting with others, therefore, is to really care about the person with whom you are speaking and yourself.

You can work on doing things like smiling, practicing the behaviors that connect you with other people, and developing a more positive social aura. Here is something concrete that you can do. If you would like to say, increase the amount of time you smile, what you do first is take a baseline of the behavior. Try to be aware and notice when you are smiling. Take a small pad with you and make a check mark each time you smile. Do this for about 3 days to a week. You can even make a chart with the time of day on it, or the type of place you were in so that you can track that too. After you have completed this baseline take a look. You will probably be surprised at how little you smile.

Look for the places and circumstances when you were smiling and when you werent. Next you work at increasing your smiling behavior. Go in front of the mirror and smile daily. When you exercise, watch TV, or engage in any activity habitually, smile throughout the activity, even if it is something that is grueling and unpleasant.

Smile as much as you can purposely. Make a contract with yourself. Measure the baseline every week and give yourself something really great each week if you smile the right amount of times, or the right length of minutes per week, depending on your baseline and contract. Make yourself earn something that you really like to do, like going to the movies, or taking a walk at the beach. If you dont get the right amount of smiles that week, dont do it.

Smile, smile, smile, especially when you are in nervous situations. You can even set up a series of exercises, or meditations where you smile throughout the exercises. If you can learn to smile naturally through grueling exercises or during nervous experiences, when you first meet a person and you are a bit nervous, you will smile automatically.

As you do more meditation, if you are meditating, you will become more aware of the thoughts and feelings that rise up and create awkwardness in your relationships. You can then work to change those behaviors by recognizing them early, before they manifest themselves. Until then this is a good model to use, along with the meditation. This model can also be used to decrease behaviors too.

Meditation, however, is most crucial in taking control of your life. It may seem boring to you, or tiring, or difficult, but meditation is the medicine for the psyche and the soul. It is worth struggling in order to reach the place of peace that only meditation and prayer brings us too, especially if you have a tendency to move toward depression. Some psychologists think that depression comes as a result of a chemical imbalance. As long as you take you medication, they say, things will be all right.

Other psychologists think that depression comes as a result of horrible external situations, or because we have learned to be helpless and to give up on life. Some mystics and spiritual counselors think that depression comes from the fact that more attuned people realize what the world can be, but when they look around and see all the pain and the suffering that is created by human beings and have to live in that world themselves, they feel empty and trapped. Depression, in this case, is a hunger for connection with the Divine.

Whatever you believe, these tips will be helpful. These articles come primarily from the mystic point of view. They are not meant to take the place of psychotherapy, but to compliment it. If they are not working for you, however, there is always help from mental health professionals. Do not discount them, because they do a great deal of work and depression can be a very serious problem.

In our next journal entry we will write our final article on depression. We will discuss how we can find the core of the problem and then begin to deal with it. Until then, keep going in and looking up, because the same beauty out there in the heavens is inside of you at the center of your own being.

Dr. J. W. Gilmore is a Writer, Spiritual Director, Anti-oppression Consultant and Wellness Consultant. He is a Certified Massage Therapist and Reflexologist, a Reiki Master Teacher, a Martial Arts Instructor and a Spiritual Coach living in Costa Rica. For our practical spirituality journal visit: http://www.dswellness.com

On Being Loves Warrior: A Warriors Manual on Becoming the Compassionate Warrior Within, Dr. Kendall Ronin.

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Overcoming Depression: The Power of Positive Thinking Works

Overcoming Depression: The Power of Positive Thinking Works
By Foras Aje

Friends: Above all else, guard you heart for its the well-spring of life

I remember telling an associate this quote once and his response (this from a straight out the tough streets of Chicago guy) was: That is deep!

He was going through a depressing situation of his life and was discussing it with me, we talked about methods of overcoming depression and I thought of that verse. Yes, folks its a verse from the Bible, and it is one of the most powerful ones that can be affirmed or repeated for overcoming depression through ones thoughts.

With the several side-effects associated with synthetic drugs for treating depression, it is quite necessary to say seeking alternative methods of depression treatment will be more than adequate and wise for overcoming depression. One of these alternatives is changing ones thinking (and speaking) habits about life and its challenges.

As its name suggests, positive thinking is a habit of accepting first that there are problems and challenges we may be facing, but in order to overcome them to avoid the inevitable depression that may result, we must think with the mind-frame of success and victory in mind. When using this for overcoming depression and our challenges, it involves forcefully saturating our minds with positive thoughts and affirmations in the aim of overshadowing the negative pessimistic thoughts about the depressing situations.

Always seek the good out of every situation and this at times may require some real action on our parts. Analyze the problems, ask why it may be happening, what you may have done to provoke or not prevent it from occurring, your options of being able to fix it and who you may have to turn to for help.

Seeking spiritual guidance and help while using positive thinking for overcoming depression, is also a great suggestion. As overlooked as the Bible may be in the present ages (or religion/spirituality period), it does contain a lot of helpful affirmations one can repeat mantra-like in thoughts and speech and with the right attitude, you almost inevitably find the answer to your problems. Is this quackery or magic? No. Your thinking process creates your world. Remember: As a man thinks in his heart, so is he

Other things to keep in mind when using positive thinking for overcoming depression are to employ the proven methods of a proper diet and exercise to create a healthy body and consequently a clearer and healthier mind which will be more capable as a consequence for overcoming depression.

Will positive thinking always work? It will be safe to say, like with anything else, you will only get out of it what you put into it. However, with the right attitude and mind-frame, it sure will beat overcoming depression through a bunch of harmful drugs.

Do keep in mind though, it is the first step (thinking right that is) to solving a problem. Moreover, as far as problems in life remember in the words of Charles de Gaulle: Difficulties attracts the man of character because it is in embracing it that he realizes himself!

Lifes problems should act as spur for action not running away from them. Considering this, positive thinking obviously is the first step to ensuring that you make the right move for overcoming depression and challenges in life.

According to your faith (thoughts and actions), be it unto you.

Foras Aje is an independent health researcher and founder of Bodyhealthsoul.com. For more information on Depression Treatment, feel free to stop by his website today.

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Accept Disappointment In Your Depression

Accept Disappointment In Your Depression
By Justin Meyer

It is a fact of life that sometimes things will not go as planned. Small things can go wrong in life, and inevitably, small and large things will happen. You might not get a job that you wanted. Maybe youve lost something that you wanted. How do you deal with the disappointment in life, how do you accept the problems that are arising? What steps can you take to make sure that when things happen that you dont like, that you are able to step back and accept what happens.

The best way to do this is to move on. Find something immediate that you can do, that can take your mind off of what is happening. In the long run, however, you need to be able to address the issue. Disappointments do happen. You can get rejected without it being the end of the world. Something can go missing, but you will find it. Not many things can actually run away. Beyond that, it is important to look at the big picture. When something happens that doesnt go your way, move on. If you dont get a job, start looking for another one. If you cant get the girl, then move on and ask someone else out. These arent easy things to do, but they are essential.

If you can keep moving forward, then you can accept that things might not be going your way but things can get better. Disappointment happens but it is a temporary condition. Turning things positive will be a benefit in both the short and long run.

Learn to alleviate your depression at http://www.curemydepression.com

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3 Words That Relieve Stress Depression & Anxiety

3 Words That Relieve Stress, Depression & Anxiety
By Chris Green

One of the most common flawed modes of behavior performed by every sufferer who enters into a harrowing episode of stress, depression or anxiety concerns the words they use to describe situations and events they are confronted with. In using powerful, emotive words, sufferers will trigger the fear response and the more they use such words, the worse their suffering gets.

Powerful, emotive words are part of everybodys vocabulary. Sometimes, we use powerful words when we lose our temper or we become angry and frustrated. In this state, we give vent to our feelings and the emotions within us have an outlet.

This is fine. For most people, once their emotions have been expressed, they return to their usual selves and life carries on as normal.

But it doesnt work like this if you are prone to stress, depression or anxiety.

In these states, sufferers will react negatively to every event they are confronted with in their lives. One of the negative reactions concerns using powerful and emotive words that can make even the most insignificant of events a major problem. Words can and do have that much power and in this article, Im going to show you how this works with three of the worst words you can use to assign meanings to events. They are:

Nothing, everything and never.

For example, lets say your relationship with your spouse breaks down. Heres how using the above words can trigger stress, depression or anxiety:

Well thats it. EVERYTHING has gone wrong in my life. Im NOTHING without him/her and I know Ill NEVER be happy ever again.

Can you see how flawed this highly emotive reaction is and can you see how these words seemingly innocuous by themselves have made one event a major, stressful episode by assigning a catastrophic meaning to your whole life?

To avoid arousing such fearful emotions, here are three better, much less emotive words you can use to lower the intensity:

For everything, use ONLY. For Never, use TEMPORARY. For nothing, use SOME.

So lets use these words to find a less intense meaning to the event in our example, the breakdown of an intimate relationship:

OK, my relationship is over, but it ONLY affects my love life. SOME things will change but other areas of my life my work, my friendships, my hobbies and my social life will carry on as normally as possible. Im hurting now, but this is TEMPORARY and things will get better in due course.

Can you see how using different words can dramatically reduce the impact and make much clearer sense of the event? This is exactly why some people never enter into a stressful, depressive or anxious episode even when they are faced with the most trying of circumstances, such as relationship breakdown.

Everything, nothing and never are just three of the emotive words used by sufferers. There are many more including expletives that are far too strong to use here but if you use the three alternatives Ive given in this article, you will drastically reduce the chances of entering into an episode of stress, depression and anxiety.

Be aware of the words you use to assign meanings mind your language!

See you soon.

Copyright 2006 Christopher Green

Former anxiety sufferer Chris Green is the author of Conquering Stress, the internationally acclaimed program which will help you to permanently conquer stress, depression and anxiety without taking powerful drugs. For a free mini course, please click here => http://www.conqueringstress.com

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Depression Hurts but You can Beat It at Its Game

Depression Hurts, but You can Beat It at Its Game
By Foras Aje

Thank God we have problems.

No, that is not a misprint friend. It is true. Why? Because it means we are still alive and guess what, it means you are being made stronger. Granted, we all have problems, some big, some small; all a source of worry, anxiety and maybe even sadness. It is part of living. The truth is it is how we handle our difficulties and problems that can make or break us as humans. Difficulties should act as a spur for action, according to Charles de Gaulle: Difficulties attracts the man of character because it is in embracing it that he realizes himself!

As powerful a grip as depression may have on you, as much as depression hurts and can make things seem hopeless, remember the quote above and make the steps to belittle the strength of this enemy of your happiness, before this foe called depression hurts you.

I believe its been said that we only use about 10% of our brain and maybe even less when it comes to our problems, which in turn aggravates how much depression hurts or seems to affect us. If you truly look within and reach for the strength that lies inside of all of us, you will see that most problems are really only bigger than what they are. Truthfully we magnify their effects with pessimistic and hopeless thoughts.

Okay, Mr. Big Shot, you tell me how to go about overcoming my depressionI will do my best for you my friend, but promise that you will try what I tell you.

To lessen the pain of depression and your problems, here are some tips for you.

1. Think positively thoughts as much as is humanly possible. Always believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Remember: As a man thinks in his heart, so is he If you think it that things will improve, fate and the life forces around will be at your disposal to aid you to succeed.

2. Watch what you utter and try as much as possible to say positive things about your life, the cause of your depression and situations. Death and Life is in the power of your tongue (words), those who love its fruits (aware of its consequences) will eat from it. (enjoyor well if negative, not enjoyit)Speak to your situation by repeating positive affirmation aloud.

3. Assess your problems and DO something about it. Try to figure out why it Occurred in the first place, learn from the situation and take the lesson as a learning experience you can draw from to make things better in the future.

Now, since a common symptom of depression is a feeling of worthlessness, why not increase your self-worth and confidence by making yourself healthier. A healthy body equates to a healthy mind, and a healthy mind, friends, is a powerful one. Stronger than any hurt depression could bring your way, stronger than your problems, stronger than your pains. But, like any muscle, youve got to work at it to make it strong.

I mentioned getting healthy. Well we all know how; through a proper diet and exercise.

The former will nourish and make you literally feel great and the latter, especially in regards to depression will exercise the motor centers of the brain, making the blood flow away from the emotional activity center; consequently you become more receptive to positive thoughts, which by the way is the first step to healing depression there is a quote that supports this, it goes-Be transformed by the renewing of your thoughtsSay that over and over, until it seeks into your subconscious.

For those who believe in the existence of the Unseen yet the Omnipotent and Present OneGod. A simple and straightforward prayer asking for His help can and will soothe the pain and challenges we may have to face in our lives. He has promised us two things when it comes to facing life's ups and downs: He will never give us more than we can handle and to Fear not for I am with thee, be not dismayed for I am thy God, I will help thee and strengthen and I will uphold you with my victorious right Hand!. Indeed, these are powerful verses to keep in mind in coping with depression.

Im not saying things will be instantly better, hey Rome wasnt built in a day friends.

With anything in life, you have to work-not necessarily hard at it-but smarter and we all know you only get out of something what you put into it-actually, a lot more.

Depression hurts, we know that; but now YOU can beat depression because you are stronger!

You can make it if you try.

Foras Aje is an independent health researcher and founder of Bodyhealthsoul.com. For more information on Depression Treatment, feel free to stop by his website today.

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Depression And New Places

Depression And New Places
By Justin Meyer

Sometimes it can be difficult when you find yourself in new surroundings. Familiarity brings comfort and when that comfort is absent, it can be difficult to deal with the situation. It can even bring on anxiety and depression. How do you deal with this?

There are a few techniques that should work. The first is to find an area that you are comfortable in. This is especially true in a large area. You need not try to adjust to the whole place. Find a comfortable spot where you can relax and be comfortable. Someplace that you can spend a lot of time (chairs would be useful here).

Bringing something that makes you feel comfortable will also be helpful. By having a book to read, or a small project that you can retreat to, you will be able to limit your social interaction and give yourself something to do that you can feel comfortable with. By having something brought from home, you can also bring some comfort from those items.

Another important aspect to keep in mind is the following.

New places can also help you with your feelings of depression.

Many times a new place will bring with it complimentary changes in your mood.

You might not have realized it but the former place where you found yourself might have been a cause for your depression.

You can read more about depression at http://www.curemydepression.com

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3 Ways To Ease Depression Isolation

3 Ways To Ease Depression Isolation
By Chris Green

One of the hardest symptoms to deal with during a depressive episode is feeling disconnected from reality. This feeling causes sufferers to retreat further and further into their own world. They become isolated from their loved ones and friends and the loneliness deepens the depression.

Heres three ways to stop isolation from making depression worse.

1. Have at least one person you can turn to and have regular contact with 3-4 times a week. Someone you can call when you need to talk, someone who can be with you just watching TV or going to a movie. You dont have talk about how you feel if you dont want to and be clear that you dont want to be questioned about your feelings. Hopefully, theyll understand this and will be there for you when you need them.

2. There will be times when you just want to shut out the world and have your own space. Many sufferers just want to be alone in a quiet room such as their bedroom. Theres nothing wrong with this at all. But try not to make it a daily or regular habit. Schedule this once, maybe twice a week at most and be strict with it. Its about a balance. Yes, shut the world out for a day or two each week. For the rest of the week, be around people, especially the special person we discussed in the first paragraph.

3. When you do shut the world out, do it in a way that helps you rather than hurts you. So, instead of retiring to a dark room and lying in bed to brood about your problems, try these: Mind puzzles logic problems, crosswords, spatial puzzles etc. jigsaw puzzles, draw or paint, play a musical instrument, write stories, watch TV or a movie, or read a book or a magazine and listen to some music. With a book and music, avoid anything too heavy or deep. Keep it nice and light. In this way, isolation doesnt become a period of deep introspection where you worry or fret about problems or go over the past or beat up on yourself. You get the peace and tranquillity but not the torment that can accompany it during a depressive episode.

If you feel isolated and that life seems like a virtual reality, then please put these techniques to use. Isolation is a part of depression and the key to lessening the impact is to understand how it happens and use it so it helps you beat depression instead of keeping you trapped in it.

Copyright 2006 Christopher Green

Chris Green is the author of Conquering Stress, a special program which will show you how to conquer stress, depression and anxiety without taking powerful drugs. For a free e-course please click here => http://www.conqueringstress.com

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10 Tips For Relieving Depression

10 Tips For Relieving Depression
By Wambui Bahati

1.Eat life-giving foods.

If you eat devitalized and lifeless food, it makes sense you will be devitalized and lifeless. Your body has nothing on which to draw to keep it energetic and vibrant. If you do not feel like cooking, then eat apples or other fruits or vegetables, sliced or whole. Even though you may crave sugar and junk food, these foods not only do not help in relieving depression, they make it worse. Buy and eat organic foods, if possible. It has not been determined how chemically treated and genetically altered foods affect us, so best to avoid them.

2.Know that you are not insane.

Depression is a warning sign that something is wrong. It is a symptom that something is out of balance in your body, in your environment, or both. We live in an environment filled with toxins. There are wars, inequitable laws, financial pressures, and media overload. The list is unending.

We are natural beings living in an unnatural world. This is the insanity. Our bodies, our minds, and our spirits are reacting to this insanity. Know that you are not insane. You are reacting to the insanity outside you.

3.Turn the TV off.

Take a break from media overload. Turn the TV off and do not read the newspapers. Most of what you hear on TV and read in the papers is not good news. This is not the time to read and listen to sad stories and ponder devastating events you can do nothing about.

4.Fake it till you make it.

Sometimes you need to work from the outside in. Act as if you are not depressed. How would you walk, talk or sit if you were not depressed? What would you do if you were not depressed? If Publisher's Clearing House came to your door right now with a $5 million check, would you tell them to go away because you are too depressed? Fake it till you make it. Your brain does not know the difference between what is real and what is imagined. Imagine you are not depressed.

5.Dress up.

Wear your good clothes. Do what you can to make yourself look and feel attractive.

6.Count your blessings.

When you are depressed, sad and perhaps angry, being grateful is not the first thought that comes to your mind. However, this is the perfect time to count your blessings. This is the perfect time to remember there are people who would gladly trade places with you. We have so many things to be thankful for; however, we often take them for granted. With an attitude of gratitude, depression cannot thrive.

7.Drink water.

You can survive many weeks without food, but only a few days without water. Dehydration will cause your body and your brain to shut down. Being happy and having a great attitude is impossible if your body is dehydrated. Drink plenty of water. One rule is to drink half your body weight in ounces each day. That is, if you weight 200 pounds, drink 100 ounces of water. Drink filtered or spring water if possible. The tap water in many of our cities contains chemicals and, again, we cannot be sure how these chemicals are affecting us.

8.Listen to motivational tapes.

Do not leave your mind alone to do its own thing. Obviously, your self-talk is not serving you well at this time. Therefore, this is the perfect time to listen to someone else's talk. Listen to motivational and inspirational tapes and music. Bombard your brain with uplifting thoughts from others. If you feel like reading, read uplifting and inspiring material.

9.Dance.

The body needs to move. Get that blood flowing through your body and your brain. Your brain needs a good supply of blood in order to work properly. But when you are feeling depressed, the idea of exercising is not appealing.

So, dance! Play uplifting and happy music. Play music that reminds you of happy times. Stretch out those parts of your body you are able to stretch. Move, move, move. Dance, dance, dance. Your body, your mind, and your soul will thank you.

10. Remember who you are.

You are a precious entity in this great cosmic universe. You are a representation of God. There is nothing true of the greatest among us that is not true of you. You are magnificent. Sometimes we forget how wonderful we are. Have you?

Wambui Bahati Miss Inspiration is a professional speaker and entertainer. Her mission: Reminding you of your magnificence.

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