Best Hawaii Vacation with Hawaii Spas

Hawaii is frequented by travelers very often since it is considered to be a tropical paradise. Hawaii offers a lot to its visitors and it is very popular. Apart from the beautiful ocean views and sandy beaches, Hawaii is a famous destination of spas. The local environment of Hawaii is really great and is very much known for the friendly hospitality shown towards the visitors or travelers. Since, Hawaii offers a safe and tropical atmosphere, it is very ideal for visitors to enjoy spa treatments. Several locations of Hawaii like the Kauai, Molokai, Oahu, lanai, Maui and the big island are very famous for the spas. The Hawaii spas offer different types of massages and therapies like the hydrotherapy, neuromuscular therapy, normal spa treatments, reflexology and therapeutic massage to provide health and wellness, sports massage, clinical massage and deep tissue massage integrating the body and the mind.

They also offer exotic forms of massage treatments branching out from the eastern styles of massages like the Reiki, Jin shin, Thai, Hawaiian lomi lomi massage, shiatsu, acupressure and aromatherapy. More advanced natural healing practices like the acupuncture or chiropractic therapies are also offered.

Lomi Lomi massage offered in the spas is the traditional massage technique of Hawaii. The techniques of Lomi Lomi massage vary with the family, region and island and it was earlier conducted with intention and prayer. Ancient Polynesian settlers got their own kind of massage form that evolved to be something unique to Hawaii practiced from child to chief by every one. Today Lomi Lomi other wise known as loving hands is very popular and common massage form practiced all over the world especially in Hawaii, Europe and Japan.

Traditionally learnt practitioners of the Lomi Lomi massage do not willingly work in any spa or massage parlor, as they treat only selected clients in a private and quiet setting often in their own homes. While treating them the clients may be asked to pray, change their diet plans, meditate and made to do their own activities apart from the massage therapy provided to them. It is a holistic way of healing tradition beyond just simple massage technique. Before performing the massage, the therapist will offer prayer to make the healing process effective and efficient. Then it is believed that the ancient spirit and wisdom of Aloha will guide, inspire and heal the clients towards their true potential. The lomi lomi massage provides a unique experience overwhelming the mind with sensation when it is done with intuitive movements, rhythm, breathing and focused intentional long and flowing strokes. It is said to cover a broader area of the body by working out the muscles encouraging the consistent flow of harmony and love and at the same time washing away harmful patterns, memories, thoughts and behaviors from the cells of the bodies. When the positive energy is allowed to flow uninterrupted, the body on the whole is healed. Hawaii spas offer some of the best spa treatments within the reach of everyone at an affordable cost. Many Hawaii spas offer special discounts and promotions online. If time is spent on doing some research regarding the offers, one can easily hit the jackpot.

Read more »

Beating Depression By Action

Depression can come on us at any time of the year. Sometimes, holidays are the worst times for those that feel this down-in-the-dumps fear and worry and things just seem to happen to make us feel gloomy and sad. Note that this feeling happens to all of us at one time or another. How to recognize the feeling and know what to do about it is the purpose of this article. 

No one can or should ignore this feeling. It is universal and the blues are very much ingrained in our world. Music and movies are legendary in handling this subject. If the feeling is too overwhelming, then sometimes professional help is the desired action. We will just talk here about the funk of depression, the knotted thinking that nothing is right and it will only get worse. The following things are suggested to help: 

1. Laughing is the best medicine is an old adage, but so true. It is amazing how when you are depressed, just laughing about something and releasing the stress, can make you feel better. If you are having trouble finding something to laugh about, maybe you can find some people to keep close that cheer you up, that you can call when you feel bad, those who you know will let you apply the "strength in numbers" theory. Invite a few good friends over just to talk and have an appetizer and you will see how much better you feel afterwards. 

2. Listening to music is another key to overcoming depression. If you can just relax and let the type of music you love drift over you and enter your senses, you will find that you calm down and feel better. Even as babies in the womb, we respond to music. Maybe you will find you want to get up and dance and there is nothing wrong with that - even without a partner! Just move to the beat and let all your stress flow out of your fingertips and toes. 

3. Do some work and you will find you feel less depressed. There is something about a clean bathroom, living room, or kitchen that gives most women a sense of pride and order and joy. Men sometimes enjoy doing some of the same work and experiencing the same attitudes. The point is you just need to get out and do something that moves your body. Maybe you can shoot hoops in the driveway, ride a bicycle through the neighborhood and say "HI" to a few of your neighbors. There is something to be said for just watching a sunset and realizing how mighty the world is and how we are just one part of it. That sometimes seems to put our troubles more in perspective. 

4. While we are on that thought, why not try prayer when you feel depressed? Try helping out someone less fortunate. Think of hospital patients and know that they most likely have things worse than you. Yet, you see happier children and adults in some of the worst settings in the hospital. Count your blessings. Hug someone or maybe go through some old pictures of happy times with your family. 

Doing productive activities will always perk you up. Think positively about your life and the things you have been given and do not dwell on the problems. Take your dog for a walk and relish in the animal's unending enjoyment at seeing you and being with you. Sometimes simple undemanding love is all we need to overcome the blue feeling. 

The last suggestion may sound unusual, but here it is. EAT ICE CREAM! Yes, just swirling that cold stuff around on your tongue and all the different flavors can make you feel good! The idea is to eat something that you totally enjoy and see how hard it is to be depressed when you have your favorite food and are enjoying it. The world just seems a little better! 

Of course, all the suggestions given above may not apply to everyone. But give them a try and who knows...maybe they can help just a little. Keep this list handy and the next time you are feeling a little down, find something that triggers the best response to get you to feel happy again. Be aware that when depression creeps in, you need to take action and beat the depression back to the corner where it belongs. 

We all have more important things to do in life than feel blue and depressed. Keep this thought in-mind and may your life be filled with joy.

Read more »

Assessing Your Health: Sleep May Be More Important Than You Think

If counting sheep is not working for you, here are some facts you may want to sleep on-chronic sleep deprivation can do more than make you tired. It can significantly affect your health, safety, performance, and lifestyle.

Most people are surprised to learn that sleeping less than six or seven hours a night can increase their mortality risk more than smoking, high blood pressure or heart disease. 

Losing as little as one and a half hours of sleep for just one night could result in a reduction of daytime alertness by as much as 32 percent. This loss can impair memory and the ability to think and process information effectively. 

Decreased alertness can also affect your life by limiting your participation in activities that require sustained attention, such as reading a book or watching your favorite TV show. And the risk of receiving an occupational injury more than doubles when a person is sleepy.

Car accidents are another problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates conservatively that each year drowsy driving is responsible for at least 100,000 automobiles crashed, 71,000 injuries and 1,550 fatalities.

As many as 70 million Americans have sleep disturbances-which include taking a long time to get to sleep, sleeping less and waking up frequently. 

Sleep disturbances may in fact be a symptom of a much larger problem, especially if they are associated with irritability and mood swings. Emotional stress, racing thoughts and restlessness can be signs of something more serious, such as bipolar disorder.

"If someone is experiencing restlessness and irritability, along with sadness or emotional ups and downs for more than two weeks," said Dr. Ellen Frank, professor of psychiatry and psychology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, "they should seek medical attention from a specialist who is trained to diagnose or perhaps just rule out depression or bipolar disorder."

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) has launched a new Web site, www. sleeplessinamerica.org, which offers educational resources that provide screening for sleeplessness, information on when to see a doctor and a questionnaire to determine when sleeplessness might be symptomatic of a more serious illness. The Web site is also available in Spanish.

Read more »

Are You Depressed Or Unhappy - What Is The Difference?

I'm glad you found my site and I hope this information is what you are looking for.

Do you know the difference between being depressed or just sad? I really think most people know the difference.

It is normal to feel sad from time to time. Everyone somewhere, sometime in lives will experience sadness. Sadness is a natural reaction to something painful which has happened. Depression is more extreme. It is a clinical illness which has a lot more symptoms than sadness and can, if not treated lead to suicide.

The difference between sadness and depression is a person experiencing feelings which they find upsetting can logically tell you what it is that is causing the unhappiness, whereas a person suffering from depression can not necessarily do so. People suffering from sadness know their feelings will begin to heal over a period of time. A person suffering from depression will usually get worse and do not see an end to the situation.

Depression can last for weeks, months or years. It is not something that a person can merely 'snap out of,' much as they wish they could. It is just not possible. The feelings are intense and overwhelming and believe me; no-one wants to be contemplating taking their own life.

If a person has a loss of interest in life in their daily activities, job, relationship or socialising for more than about two to three weeks and their mood is out of character, then a visit to the doctor would be in order.

Some of the main symptoms of depression are:

1. Tiredness/lethargy or inability to sleep (insomnia) 

2. Loss of interest in social activities and sexual relations 

3. Contemplating death and/or suicide 

4. Lack of self worth and inappropriate guilt 

5. Significant weight changes 

6. Lack of focus

If you have any smptoms, you should visit your doctor. There are screening tests are available and there are a range of them available on the internet as well. 

So take care of yourself. You are the most special person there in on this planet. There is no one else even remotely like you that has your talents, skills or abilities. You simply cannot be replaced and you have important things to do with your life. The only person you can control is yourself, so take care of yourself first and foremost. Everyone and everything else is out of your control. Start doing those things today that make you feel good. You know what they are. We're all counting on it!

Read more »

Anxiety Treatment - The Natural Remedy for Anxiety Relief

L-Theanine, naturally occurring in green tea, proves effective in dealing with anxiety symptoms and providing anxiety relief

Anxiety is a state of intense fear, uncertainty, uneasiness, or apprehension due to anticipation of an imagined or real threatening future event. Anxiety can be both physically and psychologically devastating to the Anxiety sufferer's life. Anxiety is often sub-categorized according to the focus of the perceived threat. There is social anxiety, separation anxiety, dating anxiety, performance anxiety, math anxiety, etc. Stress and anxiety often go hand in hand and can result in anxiety depression as the individual feels powerless to receive any anxiety help.

There are a variety of anti-anxiety treatments to consider in overcoming anxiety. For some, anxiety medications prove to be a source of anxiety relief. Other's prefer not to use any of the anti-anxiety drugs and opt for more natural cures for anxiety management. These may include herbs for anxiety, acupuncture anxiety treatments, anxiety vitamins, aromatherapy for anxiety relief, even hypnosis has has proved beneficial overcoming anxiety.

This article discusses the perhaps little known amino acid L-Theanine as a natural remedy for anxiety relief.

L-Theanine is a unique free form amino acid found only in the tea plant and in the mushrooms Xerocomus badius and certain species of genus Camellia, C. japonica and C. sasanqua. Often drinkers of green tea report a feeling of calmness they feel after ingesting a cup or two even though green tea has roughly half the caffeine of coffee. This is due to the high L-Theanine content.

In addition to reducing anxiety symptoms, studies have shown L-Theanine may be effective in promoting concentration, supporting the immune system, improving learning performance, lowering blood pressure, increasing formation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, and increasing brain dopamine levels among other positive benefits with no known downside.

Studies in cooperation with Taiyo Kagaku Co., The University of Shizuoka, and The Family Planning Institute of Japan have shown that women taking 200 mg L-Theanine daily have lower incidence of PMS symptoms. These symptoms include physical, mental, and social symptoms. Overall, a significant alleviation of PMS symptoms by L-Theanine was observed. 

While still under investigation, L-Theanine appears to have a role in the formation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA). GABA blocks release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, playing a key role in the relaxation effect. 

Everyone knows the effects stress and anxiety can have on an individual's physical state of well-being. Fascinating neurochemistry research has revealed that given a shot of GABA essentially turned back the clocks in the brains of older monkeys, whose brain function briefly operated at levels normally seen in monkeys less than half their age.

GABA, or gamma-amino butyric acid, is a neurotransmitter chemical that is essential for optimizing how brain cells transmit messages to each other and acts to put a damper on unwanted brain signaling activity. Although GABA's age-related decline has not been documented in humans, a host of studies in mammals, including other primates, suggests that a similar process is at work in people.

Monkeys ages 26 and 32 -- considered old age for monkeys -- that got GABA directly delivered to their neurons responded to visual patterns, such as flashing vertical and horizontal lines, in much the same way as monkeys aged 7 to 9 years old did. 

Without GABA delivery, the monkeys' aged brains had more difficulty firing neurons that specifically gauge various aspects of depth perception, motion and color. Instead, older monkeys have more random firings that make it difficult to observe visual nuances. In younger monkeys, GABA had no effect since their brains already had optimal GABA functioning.

L-Theanine is considered to be safe based on its historical use as a component of tea and on favorable toxicology studies. Tea is the most consumed beverage worldwide after water, and has been consumed for thousands of years by billions of people. It is estimated that a heavy tea drinker (6-8 cups daily) will consume between 200 to 400 mg of L-Theanine daily.

While dosage for depression and anxiety disorder remain individual, it is recommended to take 100 to 200 mg 1 to 3 times daily for anxiety relief. Based on the results of clinical studies, it has been established that L-Theanine is effective in single dosages in the range of 50-200 mg. It is suggested that subjects with higher levels of anxiety take a dose at the higher end of the effective range (100 - 200 mg) for overcoming anxiety.

Read more »

Anxiety Ends With Us

 The positive behavior will occur if you practice relaxation techniques. The stress and anxiety free lifestyle you adapt will be a normal part of your life if you eat correctly and hold tight to the conviction that less is most times more. Other wise anxiety can affect us in an unhealthful manner quite rapidly. 

Anxiety is not a hidden agenda in our lives. It is powerful, available and gratefully controllable. As a wise man once said we should not ask why we are anxious we should ask why not?  With every aspect of modern life being fast paced and overloaded we have to make a concerted effort to slow down. We also have to be careful not to cause anxious behavior to overflow and spill into the lives of the people with which we are in contact. 

Coworkers, spouses, and our children can all be affected by the power our anxiety has on us. Sometimes others can see it long before we even notice it is crowding in on us. Sometimes we can inadvertently create anxiety in others merely by our choice of words or actions. If the cycle of anxiety is going to end it has to be recognized, addressed, and extracted from every aspect of our lives.

Coworkers or employees can experience inadequate work performances simply by working in a stress filled workplace. Slowing the pace and considering how people work better in a stress-free environment is a major step in the right direction. It is not a difficult step and has so many great benefits for everyone involved. 

Spouses may only realize there is something wrong yet not fully recognized that stress and anxiety are occurring and causing ripples in the marriage. It is very likely that if one marriage partner is anxious due to money problems, working too much, or parenting issues the other partner is also anxious. This vicious cycle can wreak havoc on a typically loving home and the people who dwell within. 

Children live what they learn. They may truly believe they are creating the anxious behavior in mom or dad because of something they did. Young children will internalize and reflect their concerns in guilt. Older children will more likely rebel and act out in school to attempt dealing with the emotional overload of dealing with parents who are not relaxed. 

The good news is anxiety is effectively treated in various ways. You can choose to treat anxiety medically, holistically, or personally and gain immediate results. The key to successful treatment of anxiety is to recognize it for what it truly is. There are numerous self-help books, web pages, and meetings available to all ages.

Read more »

Anxiety Depression: Learn How to be worry free.

From a religious stand-point, Jesus once asked his 12 disciples: “Which of you by worrying can add a single strand of hair to your head?” Now, you may be of a religious background or maybe not, but, think about that statement and you’d see why worrying, a main symptom of anxiety depression is quite unnecessary. 

Reduced to its simplest form, what is worry? It is simply an unhealthy and destructive mental habit that- believe it or not folks-you were not born with but simply acquired out of practice. The good news is, with aggressive actions, as with any habit and acquired attitude; we can be worry free and eliminate it from our lives successfully. 

In the words of Dr. Smiley Blanton, a noted Psychiatrist: “Anxiety depression is the great modern plague.” Other psychologists go on to say ‘worry’ a noted symptom of any form of depression, is the most subtle and destructive of all human diseases. When we worry excessively, we disintegrate our inner workings as humans and really put a lot of things out of order. Needless to say avoiding worry as a step of treating depression and anxiety will be the first step for our own benefit.

Anxiety Depression: Steps to take to be Worry Free: 

The following steps should be used to deal with anxiety depression and its main symptom, worry. When used wisely and effectively, you will inevitably be successful at these natural depression help techniques.

1. Practice Mind-drainage: Empty your mind of pessimistic and negative thoughts, especially before going to and after waking up from sleep. This involves some degree of imagination friends. (the same imagination-mind you-that you are actually using to aggravate your present situations…didn’t realize that eh?). This mind-draining strategy cannot be overemphasized as I will let you know, if you fear something for a long period of time, it may actually come to pass. “For the thing which I feared has come upon me…” (Job 3:25)

2. Fill up the mind with powerful thoughts of faith and success to fill up the vacuum now left in the mind. You become a worrier by practicing it, you can be worry-free by practicing the opposite.

3. Say positive things about those things you previously spoke negatively of.

4. Never participate in a worry conversation. Induce your conversation with faith and worry-free statements.  

5. Make friends with optimistic people, practice prayer and meditation. 

6. Exercise and eat right. You’ll be making yourself look and feel better and consequently stronger through the process for overcoming depression, anxiety and becoming worry free. 

No one is saying things will be automatically changed overnight. No, it takes work. However with direct and equally aggressive actions as the destructive worry habits one may be indulging in, anxiety depression can be overcome and you too can be worry free if you believe in your mind you can.

Read more »

Anxiety and Responsibility

I am diagnosed as bipolar with severe depression/anxiety.  At times, the anxiety is a very crippling thing.  There are days that I can only handle doing one thing at a time.  If you add going to the store, crowds of people, commotion, loud traffic or personal relationships, things become very hard to cope with.  

 

One big thing I have been able to accomplish in the last few years is not taking it out on other people when I am so stressed out.  It's possible that I am able to refrain from doing that partly because I try to stay away from people as much as possible.  Living by myself accomplishes most of that, but it's still a special thing I have learned to do and it comes from an action that is called being responsible.  

 

After I started receiving Veterans Administration Disability, it was very difficult managing my money.  Well, I went through this for about four years.  Then, I guess I got tired of it.  It started appealing to me to be comfortable as opposed to spending money frivolously.  This special newly acquired trait of being responsible soon spread over to other aspects of my life.  

 

I started paying more attention to my children as far as the important things are concerned, even though I deeply affected them in a negative way prior to my getting help eight years ago.  I have come to the realization that the best and only way I can help them from now on is by the example I set with the rest of my life.  That awakening and the one regarding not taking my hardships out on other people helped me to stop justifying my negative actions or words that I thought were the result of someone else's actions or words directed toward me.  

 

I guess if I had to wrap it all up into one word, I couldn't.  It means more using two words....."being responsible".  When we all turned eighteen we became (officially) our self's own individual.  It didn't matter whether we had the most perfect parents of all time or whether they were only human ones who made mistakes.  We were who we were, a confused person with both negative and positive qualities and probably unaware at the time of how to retain the positive and discard the negative.  

 

It is a shame that if we are lucky, twenty years later we may see the light when our children are resenting us because we made mistakes being a parent.  After eighteen years of age there is no one responsible for you but you.  You may try to hide from that truth your entire life, but you will never truly be happy.

Read more »

Anxiety and Pregnancy

Women and babies have been interrelated since the very beginning. It is a natural phenomenon and there is nothing unusual about it. All young women want to bear a child or in other words become a mother. These days even for a career woman the desire to give birth to a child and become a mother is bound to catch up and no other joy can ever replace the joy of becoming a mother in the hustle bustle of everyday life. There are several expectant mothers who suffer from severe stress and emotional turmoil and now the question arises that can pregnancy and the anxiety related to becoming a mother can bring her joy and contentment, equally?

The answer to this question varies from woman to woman. A part of the past life of the expecting mother is always to be brought to light especially when she is going to give birth to a new life. 

What things might make it more stressful?

During pregnancy, a woman spends most of her time thinking and being drowned in her thoughts most of the times. The common thoughts during this time are will her new born be normal? will she fail as a mother? Will her baby have to go through the same problems as she had to go in her adolescence? etc etc.This is quite expected as this is a preparatory stage for the mother to love the baby who is growing inside her womb and also her body is preparing to adapt to the changes to meet the demand of the new life which is growing inside of her.

 

It is seen in most cases that the anxiety during pregnancy triggers stress in the woman. The other factors that might lead to rigorous stress during pregnancy are: 

·A current miscarriage: This shakes the woman’s confidence and the woman tends to wonder whether she will ever experience the joy of becoming a mother and see her baby cry for the first time.

·A uncertain income during the pregnancy

·An inconsistent relationship with the baby’s father

·No emotional and moral support

·Unexpected and unwanted pregnancy that might mess up other plans of life.

It is very essential to be mentally stable during pregnancy and settle all the worries and doubts with her close friends, family members and doctors. It is not impossible to deal with anxiety and pregnancy. Like other crisis of life, pregnancy and anxiety can be very easily dealt with. The pregnant woman is the right person to determine what is best for her baby. No matter what all expecting mothers want to emerge as the best mother and would always want to do the best for the welfare of her child. 

However, note that anxiety and pregnancy do not bear good results for the child. Several studies reveal the fact that if the mother is stressful and over anxious during her pregnancy then her baby is bound to develop stressful behavior later in life. Between the 12th and 23rd weeks the baby in the mother’s womb is mostly likely to be affected by its mother’s stress and anxiety. 

What good can come out of it?

Other than harboring some negative thoughts the expecting mother makes preparations to deal with anxiety and pregnancy. Several bodily changes take place during pregnancy. 

One of the major concerns during this time is that whether their anxiety disorders will affect the unborn and worsen the pregnancy conditions and also after the baby is born whether they will be able to take care of the baby properly or not. Obviously, a great concern is whether or not the symptoms of their anxiety disorder will worsen during the pregnancy, and if they will be able to care for the baby after it is born.  Whether intake of different medicines will affect the baby or not is also a cause of concern. All these thoughts however can elevate the levels of stress in the expecting mother. 

The following facts can offer some hope for anxiety and pregnancy:

·During the pregnancy period and breast feeding period the medicines for anxiety disorders are quite safe for the baby.

· About 40% of women experience a precise decrease of the anxiety pattern during pregnancy. However during postpartum the set of anxiety symptoms may return.

·The intake of medicines for anxiety disorders by the expecting mother can actually help in preventing the development of anxiety disorders in the baby later in life. If the mother’s symptoms are not treated properly then however it may result in lower birth weight of the baby. 

What can be done during pregnancy to deal with anxiety?

About 10% of women develop anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. Following the steps below will definitely help them to deal with the situation in a better way.

 

·Seek advice from your doctor about your plans to either become pregnant, or that you already are. The doctor’s instructions and medications will help you to deal with your anxiety and pregnancy strategically.

·Bond with your partner in a more strong and intimate way. This would ensure support and love which would help in dealing with the situations in a better way. 

·Relax. Pursue hobbies according to your liking. Talk to your friends, go for walks, practice gardening. All these activities will divert you mind and keep your stress under control. 

·Open up to your husband or partner and close friends and discuss your causes of stress. This will definitely help.

<a href="http://www.anxietycure.org/anxiety-and-pregnancy.html">Get more information on anxiety and pregnancy here</a>.

Read more »

Anxiety - What Has Anxiety And MAGGOTS Got In Common

Anxiety is a disorder that can disturb a persons mind to an extent where they lose control over their actions e.g. thinking and decision making. This sense of instability makes it hard for a patient to carry on leading a normal life. When anxiety takes hold it forces the patient into believing that they no longer have any say on matters of importance like decision making etc. All this can have a devastating effect on the sufferer as well as all concerned parties around them. 

With the help of modern science we have modern medicine and treatments and if supervised by a governing body of the medical profession along with your modern way of thinking and that is to believe in yourself and recognise your illness then the help out there will certainly give you hope in having a brighter future.

It is no wonder why anxiety is diagnosed as a mental health disorder when it can cause so much havoc in the upper region. Some patients lost hope where they believed their anxiety was beyond repair.  Unfortunately they became a victim of their own thoughts that was to give them the only solution to their problem and that was to commit suicide. 

We all know the feeling of anxiety where the fear factor sets in and we imagine that something awful or nasty is about to happen. If faced with difficult times e.g. like an upheaval in life, divorce or losing someone close are all situations that can be identified to the cause of anxious moments. 

There are different types of anxiety; therefore the importance of speaking with a doctor is imminent so the right course of medicine or treatment can be prescribed. Mild bouts of anxiety are common and present in a great many of our lives, but for the more severe cases anxiety bouts now become attacks which is a major worry.

Doctors dedicated in this field will diagnose an anxiety disorder if the patients tension level scales to high and stays with the sufferer for several months. If the patient can not pin point a reason behind his anxiety then it is right to stick with the prognosis of it actually being anxiety. The reason being is, depression stands in the way of diagnoses due to similarities of symptoms for both disorders. What the doctor has to decipher is whether the patient has depression with anxiety symptoms or vice or versa as in i.e. is anxiety the cause of their depression.

The effect anxiety has on each individual differs in many ways; some people are prone to the psychological/emotional side of things. When other people are tortured by the effects physically

The Psychological downside to anxiety comes in the form of inability to concentrate along with irritability. A patient experiences constant worry which can lead to sense of fearful anticipation. Lack of sleep is a strong symptom causing fatigue to take the whole body.

The Physical effects can be pains where the patient feels tightness in the chest. Breathing is affected. Loss of appetite, sex drive goes down hill and visits to the loo are more frequent (Urinating) sickness dizziness headaches and muscle tension are just a few to mention of the symptoms.

Anxiety if permitted will devour any thoughts you have on leading a normal life if you leave it to fester and rot inside like maggots eating away at a corpse. This can be all prevented if you seek advice early on any concerns you may have relating to your health or that of someone close.

Read more »

Anxiety - Rise From The Grave

 In some cases of anxiety and depression a patient clings to hope by taking anti-depressant drugs in hope that it is the answer to their prayers in relieving them of their symptoms. It has been proven that certain drugs work for some and not for others.

Anti-depressants have an enormous affect on the chemicals in the brain thus changing the mood. Drugs as such are known to help anxiety sufferers to cope with their displeasures but what you have to remember is anti-depressants are not a cure they are there to help control the condition by dealing with the discomforts i.e. symptoms. 

The healing process can take a few weeks for the drug to go to work and take affect where you will see changes. It is important to follow through with any course of prescribed medicine dosage from your doctor other wise it will hamper the effects. Anxiety/depression can cause major changes in a persons life where they have no choice but to turn to medication. Not all medical prescriptions of this sort agree with people therefore unwanted side effects. Before continuing with any medication or treatment that you feel is disagreeing with your body then consult your doctor.

Pill popping is an easy way to take away the pain from backache - headache or whatever illness causes misery, but is it the answer to a cure, no it is a temporary fix for pain. 

Natural medication and treatments in the form of herbal remedies are taken by many sufferers in the 21st century to help combat the stress and pressure brought on by anxiety - depression and panic attacks. Visit your local herbal store and talk with the herbalist who can advise you on many of natures natural potions. Depression can be a very disturbing mind meddler where lack of control and concentration is lost, due to how it interferes with your well being leaving you feeling low and in some cases at an all time low when in desperation a patient can end up harming themselves

A proven therapeutic method practiced the whole world over for many people with health concerns is Yoga, surprisingly not many people are aware of the benefits that yoga has to offer. It is known with out doubt to ease the mind and has the ability with certain moves to ease physical pain (depending on the condition) If you feel there are no answers behind why your anxious moments erupt and that it is time for a paracetomal, then think again, are you doing more arm than good.

Dealing with anxious moments can prove to be unsettling for many people but then you have those that grin and bear it. Anxious moments should not be ignored if they prolong or outstay their welcome as this could now be recognised as the start of anxiety or depression.

An early grave has been the answer for many a sufferer who found coping alone with anxiety caused more pain and heartache than actually dealing with it.

Are you a sufferer of the type of anxiety that leaves you feeling life is not worth living or wishing you were dead if so I urge you  to rise from the grave in your thoughts and seek help. You are not alone and with the right help and medical attention you can enjoy the experiece of feeling on top of the world rather than six feet under.

Read more »

Anxiety - Questions Asked By Concerned Candidates

 What is anxiety is a question asked by many people who tend to feel confused when trying to decipher the difference between this illness as it is seen and that of others. Is anxiety an illness - is it an ailment or is it a disorder - yes anxiety is classed as all three. Different stages denote whether it is an illness or a disorder.

For the severe cases that show signs of stress which is escalating out of control is a sure way of telling that the patient is suffering from an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety gives out a feeling of uneasiness. At some stage in a persons life there will have been times where they have experienced the discomfort of anxiety with anxious moments. Moments like this can arise when faced with dilemmas otherwise seen as stressful situations, for example before going for a job interview - sitting for an exam or during that of a worrying time through illness. 

Most questions asked once again by concerned candidates is it normal to feel anxious when faced agains`t something difficult or dangerous, yes everyone can suffer from anxious bouts  - it is not an unusual response to stressful situations. It has been known to improve performance in some cases

However, in the UK the one in ten people that suffer from anxiety are cases of severity where the anxiety interferes with their normal daily lifestyle. Excessive anxiety is notably directed or associated with many other psychiatric conditions, like depression. Anxiety is without doubt considered abnormal when the signs or symptoms hang around longer than necessary - in other words prolonged.

Another strong cause behind prognosis of severity is when the anxiety bouts develop to a stage where it takes hold over on how you live your life - once again meaning how it interferes with day to day activities. 

If this being the case then those anxious events is classed as an anxiety disorder - where medical treatment is needed

The physical symptoms of anxiety are identified by how the brain sends signals to other parts of the body preparing for a fight or flight reaction. The human brain releases stress hormones, which includes adrenaline. Common symptoms that can occur are: abdominal discomfort, rapid heartbeat or palpitations, dizziness, diarrhoea, shortness of breath, dry mouth, tightness or pain in chest, frequent urination or finding it difficult to swallow.

Anxiety is seen as the culprit when a mental health problem is recognised, such as depression, alcohol abuse, personality disorder, even withdrawal from the long-term use of drugs or tranquillisers.

The signs to look out for when psychological anxiety is present are: inability to concentrate, fear of madness, insomnia, irritability or anger - even the common feeling of discomfort where loss of control of your actions is evident - which is a familiar symptom high on the list of the psychological side. Some types of anxieties are closely associated with physical illnesses which - can be a thyroid disorder. If treatment takes place for whatever the diagnosed illness is, then the anxiety can improve over time.

If at any time that you or a member of the family even a close friend are showing signs of stress related concerns then please consult with your doctor - especially before buying over the counter medication.

Read more »

Anxiety - Naturally Of Course

What causes anxiety? Well if we all knew that wouldnt life be a bed of roses. Being able to nip it in the bud (excuse the pun) before it causes the damage it is capable of like interfering and preventing a person from leading a normal life There are many different theories behind the cause but because each of us differ it makes it more difficult to pin point the specific reason behind its beginning. 

Losing control of your thoughts and actions to an extent that no matter what you say or do is out of your jurisdiction, it is then medical help is strongly advised.

There is evidence that anxiety concerns develop from physical means like an over active thyroid gland which controls different body functions. Anxiety and drugs (types of medication) is sometimes not a match made in heaven so it is important to talk to your doctor before taking any tablets/pills from over the counter that you are not familiar with. 

Stressful events past or present are main factors also queried behind a persons anxious moments. If depression/anxiety runs in the family then there is an increased risk or possibility that history may repeat itself.

We all have anxious moments but it is how we deal with these upsets which is the important thing. Anxiety can be brought on by the least little thing but common factors like losing a job, moving house, and parting of the ways from a partner are just a few to mention. To deal with these depressing events we have to learn to cope. By conquering the coping process you will notice your depression/anxiety symptoms easing.

 Relaxation classes like yoga have a great effect on patients who suffer from emotional disturbances in their mind body and soul. 

Anxiety does affect people in diverse ways. Many patients experience anxiety chiefly through emotional /psychological symptoms, while others suffer from physical effects. Either way both are powerful enough to destroy.  

Anyone at anytime can become affected by anxiety. Anxiety is diagnosed as a mental health disorder. Five per cent of the population at some stage in their lives have had an anxiety or depressive bout where it has left them feeling agitated and concerned for their health. Irregular pace of the heartbeat speeding up has given some people reason to believe that their experience of anxiety or a panic session is that of a heart attack.

Reclaim your mind body and soul naturally if modern science is not your way of dealing with such health matters of which I hasten to add has proven to be very successful in the healing process for anxiety. Natural courses of herbal remedies are readily available but first and foremost consider Yoga. 

To relief stress that comes with everyday commitments then why not follow the millions of people who have chosen yoga to seek peace of mind. This form of exercise is a proven way in getting results. (Thus depending on the patients requirements or severity of his/her condition)

 Does yoga help?  Yes naturally of course.

Read more »

Anxiety

 Anxiety can be defined as emotions which are typically negative in nature. It will often consist of fear and worry, and some organisms may even experience physical signs such as nausea or chest pains. Anxiety is a complex emotion, and is composed of a number of different elments. Some of these elements are somatic or cognitive, and the body will prepare itself to deal with an external threat. The heart rate speeds up, and the blood pressure is increased. The various muscles in the body will also receive elevated levels of blood. At the same time, the functions of the digestive system will slow down. 

People who have anxiety will generally have a sense of dread. A number of voluntary and involuntary processes will take place in the body, and the goal of these processes is to get the organism away from the source that is causing it to have anxiety. Anxiety is an important emotion, and is designed to increase the survival rate of organisms. In humans it appears that anxiety comes from the hippocampus and amygdala, two regions of the brain. When a person senses bad odors or tastes, there will be a large amount of blood flow which will be present in the amygdala. The evidence also shows that medium levels of anxiety will be present in this situation as well.

Based on these studies, it appears that anxiety is designed to keep humans and other organisms from eating food or objects that may be harmful to their well being. While anxiety is normal, a person that has excessive amounts of it may have what is called an anxiety disorder. In extreme cases, people with anxiety disorders may have strong cases where they are terrorized. Anxiety disorders are broken down into phobias, panic disorders, generalized anxiety disorders, and obsessive compulsive disorders. Someone who is suffering from a phobia will have an abnormal amount of fear of a specific object or situation. People who have phobias tend to have extensive imaginations, and realize that their fear is often irrational.

When a person suffers from a panic disorder, they will have extreme panic attacks, and may have dizziness or breathing problems. These attacks will typically reach their height in about 10 minutes. Generalized anxiety disorders are common, and effect a much larger portion of the population. It is prevalent in both men and woman, and is characterized by long periods of anxiety that are not related to any specific object or situation. With the obsessive compulsive disorder, the individual with have an obsession or compulsion when it comes to specific types of behavior. People who suffer from this disorder will see the need to do something obsessively in order to reduce their anxiety.

Many people who have this disorder need to be extremely clean, and are afraid of germs. To reduce their anxiety, they will wash their hands numerous times in a single day. There are two primary methods that are used to help those who are suffering from anxiety, and this is either therapy or prescription medicaitons.

Read more »

Antidepressant Comparisons

MAOIs act by inhibiting monoamine oxidase, a complex enzyme system that metabolizes excess serotonin and epinephrine. It holds the negativity of inducing potential life-threatening problems and therefore cannot be used in patients with congestive cardiac failure or in those with a history of liver disease. It can be dangerous for those who are hypersensitive to its ingredients. It should be used only when other available Antidepressant medications fail as treatment options for depression. 

TCAs act mainly by inhibiting the reuptake of both norepinephrine and serotonin. Though the type of side effects experienced by the patient due to TCAs or MAOIs are many times similar, the frequency of these side effects is much less in the case of TCAs. Thus, TCAs enjoy a better rate of acceptance by the patients. 

The SSRIs act by inhibiting the serotonin reuptake and are considered the most popular, effective and safe prescription medications. Prozac, a drug of this class, has shown significant success in the treatment of depression and prevention of suicide. It exhibits less potential side effects as compared to TCAs and MAOIs, and is well tolerated. 

It should be noted that these three therapeutic groups share the similarity of relieving depressive symptoms in the same period of time (1 to 4 weeks). The SSRIs, because of their benefit of safety and tolerability, enjoy the stand of first-line agents. The TCAs are much cheaper than SSRIs and are preferred by patients who are unresponsive to other Antidepressants. 

The SNRIs better serve a patient of depression by aiming to keep both serotonin and norepinephrine at the right level.  The drug bupropion (novel Antidepressant) is unique in its efficiency to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.

Read more »

Anger Managements for Teens

 As the kid comes to understand the world of being a teenager, there are many confusions and chaos, which can sometimes bring some impact to their growth. As kids make the transition, many elements can make their body and mind out of control. This may turn to anger if not guided well. Parents and teachers must educate the kids of the different transitional changes that will happen to their body. 

Teens can react indifferently if they are confused. Young teens from twelve to sixteen years of age are more prone to doing things their own way because they feel that their emotions and freedom are being controlled, this results to unmanaged anger. 

Teens of today's world are more prone to pressures compared to the teens of the past. They are more exposed to violence and hostility. Other teens may come from a broken home where domestic abuse are constantly present. By the time they are starting to grow, they are exposed to things like these problems, so they tend to get out of out of control. They might have angers that can be expressed in the most antisocial form. That is why sometimes, they are required to undergo anger management.

Teens may experience frustrations that drive them to do criminal acts. The best way to revive a teen from this world is to seek help from their parents, teachers and law enforcers. They can train the teen on how to respond rationally to all these stress. They can teach the teens how to identify negative feelings and practice more mature behaviors as well. 

Anger management programs can also be of great help to these suffering teens. This special program teaches them to improve their behaviors in ways that are more acceptable. The will be taught on how to think positive especially if they are from families who do not show them positive responses to stressors. From this, they can now learn how to handle difficult feelings.

Read more »

Andropause and Depression

Andropause correlates directly with depression – a major player in the notorious mid-life crisis period men face in their late 40´s to late 50´s. 

 

There are a wide variety of symptoms and conditions men experience during this mid-life transition – everything from the mental (i.e. irritability) to the physical (loss of libido, lack of energy, and weight gain.) Depression, left untreated, can be a disabling condition. 

Andropause depression is due to dropping levels of testosterone. Low testosterone levels cause many depressive symptoms – among them, a general indifference to events surrounding you, the inability to concentrate, extreme irritability, and memory loss. 

We might stress over things that might otherwise be worry-free in a normal situation and brood over certain matters. Our memory might go down the drain and we begin to see our lives in a negative light. 

Energy levels plummet and enthusiasm for the activities we used to enjoy become flat-lined. Insomnia and restlessness is also a common symptom. Normal everyday things can become a burden to us, and the simplest shout of a child can make us excessively irritable. 

Psychologists use a variety of battery tests to figure out whether you suffer from depression. Besides handing you test sheets to work with, they also place you under observation – noticing your behavior, tendencies, and habits while talking to them. Men tend to be rebellious creatures by nature. We love shrugging off our faults and being poised in the midst of emotional trouble. We take on the role as masculine creatures – lion kings of the jungle that reign over the sprawling landscape we call life. 

Men can be in full denial when it comes to questions about their sexual ability and prowess. Refusing to understand that we aren’t who we once were with our sexual performance as a result of Andropause is in our blood. 

Fellas, it is time to become aware and acquainted with the severity of your depression. Off the bat, there are facts and figures supporting depression as a major problem. For one, 80% of all suicides in the United States are carried out by men. 

The majority of people with this condition never seek the advice and counsel of therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists. Probably the most shocking fact of all is the male suicide rate is highest during the Andropause years. You read correctly – highest during the years we’re specifically talking about. 

How do we deal with these devastating changes to our lives? How can we manage stress to reduce the chances of clinical depression? For one, we must follow a daily exercise regimen. That coupled with a caffeine-free diet will boost our immune systems to fight disease. It will also slow down the aging process. Aim to maintain that explosive 30-inch, vertical leap well into your 60s! 

Another is doing the activities we love. Don’t stray from playing your pick-up basketball games with buddies or building those go-carts from scratch as a hobby. Stick to them and enjoy the satisfaction of doing so. Distract yourself from your current condition without ignoring it completely. 

Maintain a social network of friends and family that will cheer you up when you need it most. Something as simple as having your young child shove a hand drawing of a red school bus in your face can provide for laughs and smiles. The most important piece of advice is to accept your condition and make accommodations. For example, low testosterone levels can easily be supplemented with testosterone cream. 

It’s bound to happen to all of us, and you either have the choice of making the best of it or letting it overwhelm you. Awareness is critical, and an optimistic attitude, followed with physical activity and a solid nutritional plan, is the best means of fighting Andropause, anti-aging, and the demon known as depression. 

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

Read more »

An Introduction to Mobile Psychiatric Rehabilitation

 People who are mentally ill also seem to be chronically afraid of hospitals, or at least seem to want to avoid medical attention in a hospital setting.  Looking at it from the perspective of someone who is confused or otherwise mentally unstable, the sterile and instrument-laden halls of a hospital are indeed terrifying, and can even be considered "creepy" by a person who is not suffering from a mental condition.  

Mentally ill people do not want to come to a hospital, and they do not want to seek treatment, making it difficult to get that treatment to them. This is why mobile psychiatric rehabilitation units have been established. Mobile psychiatric rehabilitation is designed to help people who are suffering from a mental illness regain or maintain the skills that will help them function in society, allowing them the comfort and security of being treated in an individualized fashion by a caring person in their own homes.  

The mobile psychiatric rehabilitation program is individualized to each person, with a specialist conducting an assessment of each person to whom the mobile psychiatric rehabilitation unit is assigned.  They work with the mentally ill individual to determine their strengths, and their personal and community resources.  From there they work to determine a plan of service to help outline the tasks and goals of the individual.  Both the patient and the representative have tasks between each visit to make progress toward these goals.  

The mobile psychiatric rehabilitation units are tailored to meet the wants as well as the needs of each individual.  They can meet an individual in their own home, at their school, their work, or even in their neighborhood. These services are short term and are goal oriented, allowing people, through their own personal choice and at their own speed, to develop the skills and the support that they need to become self-sufficient and to have a more satisfying life.  

Mobile psychiatric rehabilitation can help to allow a person to manage their own home through the acquisition of new skills such as budgeting, nutrition, and other self-care skills, as well as skills in areas such as the use of public transportation. Mobile psychiatric rehabilitation can help to teach mentally ill individuals or mentally deficient individuals to use their time more productively, both in the community and at home, and can help them to manage mental health issues like their medications.  

Mentally ill people can also benefit from mobile psychiatric rehabilitation to help them use community resources such as employment specialists, advocacy groups, program participant groups, and other community support to their advantage. They will learn how to enjoy and make use of the love and support of their family, friends, and community, even co-workers, and will work on their ability to coordinate their care between their service providers and their support systems at or near home.  

Mobile psychiatric rehabilitation focuses not on medicating or treating mentally ill patients, but on helping individuals medicate themselves and assisting them in managing their own diseases so that they can live out their lives as best as they can. A mentally ill individual could make use of mobile psychiatric rehabilitation to learn how to live on their own and how to use the features available to them, from busses and trains to employment specialists.  

People working with mobile psychiatric rehabilitation can learn how to utilize their co-workers as a support system, and about how to reach out for the help that they need in managing their everyday life. The mobile psychiatric rehabilitation programs can also help people to learn about their own homes and lives, allowing them to learn about things such as budgets so that they can become even more independent.  

It feels good to work with a friendly person to reach a goal that you personally have set. Whether your goal is to learn how to get to work all by yourself or how to buy groceries or clean your own house. Mobile psychiatric rehabilitation is a wonderful service for the mentally ill, and can help people who might otherwise fall apart to get on their feet and learn to move forward, perhaps for the first time in their lives.  

Mobile psychiatric rehabilitation is for anyone who is a functional mentally ill person.  This program, if it is available in your area, can help you or a loved one learn to make use of their functional capacity to live independently.

Read more »

Always Tired, fatigued, Anxiety filled? Maybe you need a Depression Test.

Depression has become one of the most widely increased diagnosed disorders in this country over the past few years. Things like the falling economy causing a decrease in personal finances, in addition to life’s daily stresses and worries have caused many Americans to become depressed.

You may have seen the recently advertised television commercials offering depression testing. Depression not only saddens an individual’s state of mind, but also causes symptoms like fatigue, anxiety and loss of motivation, even in the simplest of daily activities. People who are depressed are not temporarily moody or sad. The condition is unfortunately, long-term and negatively affects the way a person feels, thinks and behaves.

Depression is a genuine medical condition that can be treated, but the help has to be sought out. That in itself can often times be a difficult task for someone experiencing this ailment. A Depression Test is important because depression is a disease that requires attention and medical treatment. If it is not treated, it can last for months, and in some cases, even years.

If you have been feeling out-of-sorts for an extended amount of time, you might consider taking a depression test. There are several ways you can do this. If you don’t feel up to a doctor visit, go online. Visit a website that can offer you a simple questionnaire to decide whether or not you might be clinically depressed. There is a wonderful website called lexapro.com that offers a very good depression test which is in the form of a simple questionnaire. You will also find answers there to any questions you might have about the way you are feeling. Another good web resource is depression.com. Please keep in mind that if your depression test results lead you to believe that you are in fact suffering from depression, you must make an appointment to see a physician and get treatment.

If you are, or know someone who is suffering from depression, seek help. There is nothing to be ashamed. You shouldn’t have to live in sadness so don’t continue to let life pass you by. You are valuable part of this world and you deserve to experience the same happiness as everyone else around you.

Read more »

All You Need to Know about Marijuana Drug Screening & THC Drug Testing

 Marijuana is an illicit substance taken most often by means of smoking. A cigarette rolled with marijuana is called a joint. A cigar rolled with marijuana is called a blunt. The drug can also be smoke through a pipe or a bong. Regardless of how marijuana is taken, it is harmful to the body, impairs judgment and its use is an incredible liability to companies. 

What is THC?

Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC in its abbreviated form is the substance found in marijuana. As the active ingredient in cannabis, THC is what causes the pleasurable sensations those who take marijuana describe. 

Signs of Marijuana Abuse

A person high on marijuana exhibits tell-tale symptoms including loud talking and laughter, sleepiness, irritated eyes, odor on breath and clothing, carrying drug paraphernalia, distorted sense of time intervals and forgetfulness. 

Signs of Marijuana Addiction

Marijuana addicts are often focused on the drug at all times, when they will next be able to use, where they will use and where they will get their next fix from. Warning signs include dependence, uncontrollable urge to use the drug, mental fixation on the drug, and continued use of the drug despite physical, emotional, mental and social consequences associated with it.

Marijuana Drug Testing

Drug testing for marijuana is very beneficial to companies and parents alike. Not only is marijuana drug testing easy to perform, it is also laboratory accurate in most cases. Marijuana drug test kits are available in many different types including hair drug tests, urine drug tests, saliva drug tests and spray drug tests. Each of these marijuana tests have their own pros and cons, yet the most popular for marijuana drug testing in the home and the workplace is the urine drug test. Once a urine sample is collected, the dipstick, or other testing device is subjected to the sample and results can be read within minutes. 

Employers benefit greatly from THC drug testing, as it helps to maintain a safe working environment for employees and keeps productivity up. Losses associated with drug use in the workplace include decreased productivity, absenteeism, workers compensation claims, insurance claims and onsite accidents. To prevent this, marijuana drug testing can keep jobsite drug abuse at bay and ensure employees are safe, healthy and working to the best of their ability. 

Parents can also benefit from marijuana testing. Drug testing kits are simple to use and help worried families conclude whether or not their child is abusing drugs. Drug testing for marijuana can help keep drugs out of your home and out of the hands of your children. Marijuana testing can also be the first step in helping your teen overcome their drug addiction.

Read more »