Ways to Overcome Depression - Your Options in Conquering Depression

You may have heard about depression many times and indeed, depression is common and most often, people with this disorder do not seek treatment. If you are one of those suffering from depression, it is important to note that there are ways to overcome depression and you can actually seek treatment.

You have to understand that depression is more than just being down and sad. It can include symptoms like loss of interest in the things that you use to enjoy and may include difficulties of sleeping, loss of energy as well as weight loss. Not only that, it may also include thoughts of death or committing suicide, thus it is important for you to not wait for depression to destroy your life before seeking treatment.

Exercising your mind and body

Indeed, your thoughts, your emotions as well as your physical self will be drained with depression and finding ways to overcome depression as early as possible can be a wise move. You may start with some simple steps like having regular exercise to help you ease off the tension in your body. Meditation is also a good way to help you learn proper breathing and learning how to relax. It will also help you empty your mind and make you stay calmer.

Finding support groups

Finding support groups, from families, friends, to people suffering from the same disorder is also one of the good ways to overcome depression and manage its effects in your life. Talking about your disorder with people going through the same problem will also help you find new strength in dealing with the symptoms of depression.

Medical treatment

Medical treatment for depression often involves antidepressant medications, SSRIs and some anti-anxiety medications, although experts often recommend getting therapies together with medications and not just rely on drugs itself to successfully fight depression.

Psychotherapy and NLP

One of the most effective ways to overcome depression is through psychotherapy. In fact, psychotherapy is considered the most effective treatment for depression and other anxiety disorders and problems. Although there are many psychotherapy techniques used in treating depression, addiction and anxiety disorders, NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming is found to have quick results when it comes to overcoming depression. NLP also allows you to overcome depression without having to take drugs and of course, a much healthier way to combat this disorder.

Not only does NLP help you fight your depression but also helps you in improving your life from your career, to interpersonal relationships and in gaining more self-confidence and self-esteem. Aside from depression, it also helps you overcome other hard to break habits as well as fears and phobias.

Aside from NLP, hypnotherapy as well as cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT are also other effective techniques that are used in overcoming depression, anxiety disorders as well as treating phobias and fears.

Indeed, you can find ways to overcome depression and put an end to this disorder, for as long as you seek help and if you will allow yourself to be completely healed from this devastating disorder. You just have to take that first step to healing and that is seeking help.

5 Tips to Reduce Depression

While war and poor economic conditions begin to affect people all over the world, more and more people suffer with depression. The more we focus on news events and the business climate, the more we are depressed. Whatever the reason you feel is the cause of your depression, the following five simple tips guarantee you reduce it significantly.

1. Do not read newspapers.

Newspapers publish negative stories most of the time. Even in peaceful periods, newspapers will find the worst in humanity and place negative stories on display in order to promote sales and subscribers. Stories focused on War, rebellion, death, destruction, doom and despair abound in the newspapers.

You will not miss any news. Friends, family, and your local air raid siren will keep you informed if your attention is needed. Only pay attention to the things you can control in your life.

Stop reading the newspaper and reduce the negative input to your brain.

2. Turn off your television.

Watching and listening about the horrible economy and the losses associated with War will add to depression. In fact, you guarantee the feeling of helplessness. Helplessness allows depression to nurture. If you really need to watch or listen to these kinds of news stories, promise yourself you will bury yourself in the documentaries that are sure to follow in the next 5 or 10 years. A way you can eliminate most of the negative input to your brain is by setting it aside for a date somewhere in the future. I guarantee in the future, you will not find it very interesting.

When visitors come to your home, make sure you turn off your television and keep it off. News television broadcasters are fighting for your guests' attention as they promote despair, war, death, and destruction with many headline news interruptions. Those little banners that run across the bottom of the screen achieve your attention and they take hold of your consciousness. Television will diminish your positive spirit.

3. Say good things about others

My Mother always says, "if you can't say anything nice about others, don't say anything at all." However, when you find yourself in a conversation and a relative says, "Remember Uncle Phil?" " He was an alcoholic" Respond with " yes, Uncle Phil was an alcoholic and he was the most charitable person, I have ever met."

Connect your friend's negative statement about Phil with a positive one. Set yourself up to find the positive in anyone's statement and you will keep negative thoughts and depression from overtaking your life.

Og Mandino, a great motivator once said, "treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight." "Your life will never be the same again."

4. Get physical exercise

Adults forget about exercise when suffering from depression. Make sure you are exercising daily and sending more oxygen to your brain cells. The result of exercise will improve your health as well as your attitude.

5. Breathe deep and relax.

Practice the following breathing exercise to relax your body and mind.

Breathe deeply and relax. For 2 or 3 minutes each hour, take a short mental vacation.

You can engage in this exercise while you are standing in the checkout line at the supermarket or when listening to others while talking on a telephone. You can complete the exercise at home or at work.

Take three deep breathes and relax. As you inhale, concentrate on calm and peaceful thoughts. You may think about relaxing by a mountain, by the ocean or comfortably in your favorite room at home.

As you exhale, concentrate on pushing any tension out of your lungs.

Focus on positive images in your life. Focus on laughter, love, excitement, and hope.

Keep breathing in and out in this pattern until you feel better. If you practice the exercise often, you will notice wonderful changes in your outlook and in other aspects of your life.

Reduce your depression now! Enjoy your family, your friends, and your life.

Stop Anxiety and Panic Attacks - Unforgettable Steps to Freedom From Panic Attacks

Learning to stop anxiety and panic attacks isn't difficult, but they can be very difficult to conquer on their own, without any guidance. Here is how I learned to stop these attacks forever.

When I first had periods of panic, the first symptoms I noticed was that my chest felt heavy, and it was difficult to breathe, almost like there wasn't enough oxygen in the air. I found out a few weeks later that the perception of breathing difficulties, along with an elevated and even painful heart rate, are the two biggest side effects of panic attacks.

The first thing that will help you stop panic attacks is realizing that these attacks are nothing more and nothing less than your body reacting to stress in your life, which activates the biological fight-or-flight reaction. There is no physical cause, and these episodes do not harm your body or pose any danger to you.

You might not even realize at first that you're having a panic episode. You might think you're having a heart attack, or your lungs aren't working properly, or you are sick, but all of these feelings are physical manifestations of problems that are actually entirely internal. Tell yourself that you are fine, these attacks don't kill anyone, and that this attack will pass, will help you get through your next episode.

The next step is to find their cause. Did you have panic episodes like this a year ago? What about six months ago? What changed? If you can't think of any significant, stressful differences in your life, think back a month at a time until you create a shortlist of possibilities. It's even possible that many little problems contributed to one MASSIVE problem.

Your panic attacks might not be even caused by extremely recent concerns - they might be resulting from an elevation of problems or anxiety that had been building up over months or years and finally reached "critical mass", or they might be symptoms of a slowly-growing mental affliction, like generalized anxiety disorder or depression, that your body was not able to sustain anymore without going "overboard."

The final step is determining whether or not you can cure your own panic attacks. The key for self-treatment is being convinced that what you're experiencing, are, indeed, panic attacks, and not something seriously wrong with your body. I personally required a couple of doctor's examinations before I believed that. That second visit marked the day of the last severe attack I've ever had.

Knowing What Causes Panic Attacks Can Help You to Deal With Them More Easily

If you know what causes panic attacks, you might find that you are better able to deal with your episodes and even shorten the duration of an attack should one arise. Anxiety is a big pain for many people, but just because it makes you angry doesn't mean you're any less likely to suffer from it. When you can begin to recognize what might cause you to suffer from an anxiety attack, you are closer to healing yourself than you might imagine. In fact, you might be surprised to discover that not all are caused from the way you think.

When you expose a person to a phobia, it could cause a panic attack. By knowing what you are afraid of, you can avoid these triggers should you be forced to deal with them.

Passiveness is another potential cause of panic attacks. While you might think that you are being nice when you are overly respectful or polite, you might actually be afraid of people or situations and choose to be passive when you encounter them. While being polite on its own isn't the issue, it has been found that people who are excessively polite are shy or suffer from low self confidence and that could cause people to suffer from an anxiety attack.

You might also find that some medications can trigger an attack, such as certain antibiotics. In fact, some medications are listed as having this side effect. Knowing what causes panic attacks, such as the taking of a medications, can help you to deal with them. The thought is that people taking these particular medications will usually only experience an attack when they are getting used to the medication, but for many people that's just too long.

Another very common cause is what is happening in a person's everyday life. For instance, major stressors, such as job loss, emergencies or financial problems can cause a person to suffer from anxiety and stress for a while. Usually, when this occurs, the problem subsides as the situation improves and there is no need to seek treatment.

Recognizing what causes panic attacks in you, can help you to work toward solving the cause and possibly eliminating panic attacks from your life forever, but remember that it could take you a while to get to the root of your problem and identify the problems. In the mean time, be patient and try to stay calm and as stress free as possible.

Overcoming Panic Attacks - Essentials to Defeating Anxiety

Leading a normal life with a panic disorder is extremely difficult and disturbing. Most people suffering from panic attacks tend to see every situation as a possible threat and hence live every single day trying to avoid meeting people, traveling, living alone, getting into conflicts or arguments etc.

I can empathize with people suffering from this disorder as I myself was a victim of it for a long time. But, thankfully, the modern days have come up with numerous modern ways to deal with this problem, thus relieving many people of their agony. Read on as I explain to you how I was freed from my panic attacks.

When panic attacks get the better of you, most people would prefer immediate relief and hence turn to drugs. But as you keep taking these drugs, you will realize that not only does it make your condition worse, but you reach a point where you just cannot stop taking these drugs and then you end up ruining your physical and mental health. The root of the problem, the reason for the attacks, the reason for not being able to perceive a situation in the right manner, all these problems cannot be set right by the use of drugs. They only give you symptomatic relief when you are extremely nervous, or you have a racing pulse or you are sweating profusely, when you feel like someone is strangling you etc.

When a situation is perceived as a small trigger, most normal people react by feeling a little nervous, start sweating and experience slight palpitation. But, in people suffering from panic attacks, these little triggers are perceived as a huge threat and they react with symptoms that are much more severe when compared to normal limits, which is why these people always seem to be tensed and afraid.

A panic attack is very treatable. What you need to do first and foremost is accept that you have a little problem, a problem that does not let you perceive certain painful situations in the right way. Instead of worrying about all the reactions that happen in your body when the mind is triggered, try to focus on re-thinking and re-living that triggering situation over and over again until your mind develops the art of looking at it calmly without going insane.

Every new situation should be taken as a challenge, like a new mathematical problem where your mind gradually develops the art of solving different kinds of problems by proper analysis. Once you learn how to do this, you will see that your mental and physical health improves a great deal, which will improve your overall quality of life.

Now There is a Cure For Panic Attacks!

If you are reading this article you either suffer from a panic related disorder or attacks, or have a loved one going through this awful ordeal. In either case, give yourself a pat on the back because you've taken the first initiative to obtaining a cure for panic attacks by making an effort to finding information about this torrid problem.

A cure for panic attacks comes in numerous forms and thus the chances of you completely overcoming your panic attacks are very high. Before we dive into the professional's cure for panic attacks, it would be better to first analyze how you live your life.

As the root cause of panic attacks is anxiety, odds are that you lead a very stressful life in which you are perpetually worrying and fretting about something or someone. Hence, a change is required in your lifestyle whereby you avoid things which increase stress levels and in their place you adopt habits which are healthier in nature. Alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, all renowned for increasing stress levels, thus need to be avoided for you to cure your panic attacks. In their replacement you should incorporate a diet which is healthy, i.e. one which includes ample amounts of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, you should take up an exercise routine on a regular basis so that your body and mind are both given a much needed breather from the frenzy of your normal day.

Once you manage to incorporate these lifestyle changes you will automatically feel a difference in your physical and mental health. Not only will you feel better about yourself, but you will soon see that your anxiety levels are far lower than what they used to be. Nonetheless, you might still need professional help to fully cure yourself of panic attacks. Professional help comes in three forms; medications, behavioral therapy, and a combination of the two.

While behavioral therapy has been lauded by the majority of medical professionals since it provides permanent improvements, medications have generally been criticized. This is because both the medication options i.e. antidepressants and benzodiazepines are known to show desired results only whilst the medication is being taken. Research shows that when medication is stopped, the chances of a reoccurrence of the panic attack increases greatly. Moreover, medication for panic disorders has also become infamous for its side effects as well as its addictive nature.

That said, the attraction and appeal of benzodiazepines still remains strong among people suffering from panic related conditions, since benzodiazepines are able to provide instant relief and can thus be used to counter the symptoms of a panic attack when they surface. Remember though that as mentioned earlier the 'pill popping' route can be a dangerous and if you feel compelled to go down the medication route, it should only be after extensive consultations with your physician or doctor.

A better idea though would be to give therapy a chance. Although therapy is spread out over numerous sessions and can thus test a person's patience, its success ratio is so high that it has unofficially come to be known as the best cure for panic attacks. Whether you opt for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Exposure Therapy, you need to remember to remain steadfast to your option and be patient even if results don't come as fast as you would like.

Always keep in mind what's at stake...Your life. Instead of throwing away everything for a short term solution, build the patience to endure a proper therapy treatment plan and hopefully before you know it, you'll have your life back in your hands.

Note that if you really want to get the ball rolling on curing your panic attack, you need to start reading up as much as you can on the topic. The more you inform yourself of your problem, the easier the curing process will be.

The Anxiety Disorder Child - When Should You Be Concerned?

Children Get Panic Attacks Too: How to Help an Anxiety Disorder Child

It is a common misconception that stress, anxiety and panic attacks only happen to adults, when things like work, family security and monthly bills give them reason to be tense and to worry. Kids, though, also have ample reason to be stressed. Exams, puberty, as well as the yearning to be liked and to be accepted in school can all contribute to a child's anxiety and tension. Most of the time, like the rest of the adult world, children can cope with different stressful situations and rarely do these instances develop into full-blown panic attacks. But there are times though, when we do encounter an anxiety disorder child and the attacks he experiences may even be more damaging than those experienced by adults.

The years before children and adolescents reach their teen years can be a very challenging period. Besides the different physical changes they are undergoing, children are just beginning to learn about the real world and are also wrestling with different new emotions such as jealousy, love and the need to be accepted by their peers. Often, kids are able to handle these emotions well and grow up into confident, successful adults. Sometimes, though, since children still don't have enough experience to properly deal with different stressors, anxiety disorders can develop and they can turn into an anxiety disorder child. If not treated right away the child may grow up bearing more serious disorders and phobias (fears).

An anxiety disorder child also exhibits the same symptoms as adults who experience anxiety attacks. He may have palpitations, feel flushed, have cold sweats and hyperventilate. His attacks may prevent him from enjoying the company of his friends, can interrupt his schoolwork and even make him moody and unpredictable. Early detection of an anxiety disorder child is the best way to help him fight anxiety attacks and prevent them from becoming more frequent or more serious. The following are some signs you can refer to, to see if your kid is developing an anxiety disorder.

• Separation anxiety. Most kids are scared of going to school for the first time and being separated from their parents, but these fears soon vanish when they meet other children and become comfortable in the school setting. Some children, though, still remain clingy and won't allow their parents to leave them in school by crying or by throwing a tantrum. This behavior, called separation anxiety, also occurs whenever the parents leave the child at home or any other place. Crying, tantrums, yelling and screaming are some ways by which a child tries to make his parents stay. A lot of events may cause separation anxiety such as a divorce, changes in routine or the fear of being alone.

• Social phobia. An anxiety disorder child with social phobia is extremely shy to a point that even speaking in front of the class causes him great distress. Sometimes, children with social phobia beg parents to let them stay at home just so they miss school presentations and other events that require them to be in front of a group of people. The symptoms of a panic attack often set in when the child with social phobia is with a group of people or if he is at the center of attention: he starts to shake, his heart races and he feels nauseous or dizzy.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Because children have a different perspective of the world, they often do not realize that they worry excessively about simple things. An anxiety disorder child with GAD might stay up all night stressing over a first date or he may fret too much over an exam that is still a month away.

• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Certain unfortunate events may set a harmful cycle for children. An ugly divorce, for example, may cause kids to avoid and be scared of certain places that they used to go to as a family. A traumatic car accident may cause children to be extremely fearful of riding any kind of vehicle. Still others who were abused as children may experience recurring nightmares and might be unresponsive to and fearful of adults.

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This is a common disorder in both children and adults characterized by recurrent fears or thoughts that in turn, cause them to do a particular behavior pattern or action repeatedly. An anxiety disorder child who is fearful of germs, bacteria and of getting sick, for instance, may insist on washing his hands every hour. Children with OCD develop certain rituals, believing that these rituals can keep something bad from happening.

Just because children face seemingly less stressful situations than adults, doesn't mean that they don't have panic attacks. Anxiety and stress can cause as much harm in a child as in an adult. But with enough love, care, respect and proper treatment, even an anxiety disorder child can grow up to be a happy, well-adjusted adult.

What Are Common Panic Attack Symptoms?

You're pretty sure you've had a panic attack. Whatever it was, it was pretty scary and you'd like to know more about it and how to stop it from coming back. One of the first things you'll need to understand a little better are the various symptoms.

While each person suffering from panic attacks may have slightly different feelings or chain of events they go through leading up to their attacks, there are a few fairly common symptoms or combinations that most people will experience.

These symptoms include:

• Hyperventilation or some difficulty with breathing

• Tingling feelings in some or several parts of the body

• An extremely rapid heart beat or irregularities of the heartbeat

• Tightness throughout the chest area

• Dizziness or feelings of losing consciousness

• Feelings that are variously described as quivering, quaking or shuddering

• A queasy stomach

• Feeling of being disconnected from the body or mind

• Sweating even though the surrounding temperature seems normal

• Excessive fear of dying

• Fear of losing control of the body

Panic attacks are a little strange in that they can occur at almost any time and in any situation. That's what makes them such a challenge to beat. They usually only continue for a few minutes. Sometimes they can last up to as long as half an hour, but rarely longer.

Lots of times, for whatever reasons a person will only have one or two panic attacks and then never have another. Perhaps, the issue that was causing the extra stress in their life is settled and things become fairly normal again.

But, if the attacks continue they will probably come at shorter intervals and can be tied to particular events or situations. The repeated attacks will more than likely lead to constant concern about having more panic attacks which will have a major impact upon a person's behavior and outlook on life. If the attacks continue to elevate then the development of panic disorder is a possibility.

The symptoms of panic disorder include:

• Repetitive and unanticipated attacks not related to any one condition or location

• Continual concern about having more attacks leading to increasingly higher and higher levels of fear with less time where there are feelings of normalcy

• Fairly sweeping changes in behavior because of the attacks-including avoiding situations and locations where panic attacks have happened in the past because there is a feeling these situations or locations are the cause of the attacks

These are the symptoms of panic attacks and panic disorders. If you believe you, or someone you know, are suffering from any of these symptoms take the steps to more fully understand the symptoms and get some tools to help deal with them.

Preventing Panic Attacks - 5 Secrets to Preventing Panic Attacks

Learn Five Simple Secrets To Preventing Panic Attacks.

1) Diet

I'm sure you've heard it said that: "you are what you eat - from your head down to your feet." And maybe that didn't make a whole lot of sense as kid, but it sure makes sense when you grow up. If you want control anxiety attacks, a great place to start is with your diet. Right off the bat, eliminate or limit the intake of alcohol and caffeine. Sure, I know, this may seem much easier said than done, but it's worth the effort and you can start small.

Next, incorporate fruits and vegetables into your daily eating habits. The goal is to calm your nerves and alkalize the body and what is being recommended is the blueprint of how it's done.

Finally, take in as much protein as possible. Protein is the source of the body's neurotransmitters.

2) Regular Exercise

Do this on a regular basis. Exercise helps to keep the mind and body centered and calm. There are two types of exercise - calming and vigorous forms. Most doctors advise getting in both.

My experience has taught me that both forms are complimentary. As an example, some days I'll start with a run or weight lifting, and then move on to yoga.

This is many people's secret for staying calm and balanced. By alternating vigorous and calming form of exercise, you are working both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The active and passive, yin and yang, of this method will make you solid as a rock.

3) Emotional Lifelines and Support

No man is an island. What is life without someone else to share our experiences with?

We all need social interactions and friends. So, go out today and make some new friends and renew ties with old ones. Get outside of yourself and share your thoughts, hopes, and desires.

See if you don't feel more calm and connected after committing to this simple step.

4) Stay Busy

When someone is full of anxiety, doing nothing is the worst thing that can be done. The reason is simple. If you sit around the house and mope, your subconscious brain will easily find ways of placing increasingly negative thoughts in your head.

But, conversely, if you keep yourself preoccupied and busy, your thoughts will remain on the tasks at hand and your brain will have very little room left for conjuring up negative thoughts.

This often-overlooked technique is one of the most effective techniques in preventing panic attacks.

5) Behavioral Cognitive Therapy

This involves training the brain. Maybe you didn't know that the brain actually has the ability of being trained.

Neither did I until I learned a technique called "The One Move Technique". It's a simple but powerful method that demonstrates how to transfer brain activity from the overly emotional midbrain to the purely logical forebrain.

By doing this, you are taken away from a place of heightened panic and anxiety to a state of calm. I learned this last technique from the product referenced below. It has literally been the saving grace in my life and the key in the battle of preventing panic attacks.