Continue reading »]]> Depression is the most common form of mental illness, especially among the aging population. It is depressing to realize that one is nearing the end rather than the beginning of life.

Depression is a normal part of the aging process. Why not? You may have aches and pains from diseases and disorders; you may have physical immobility or disability (having others to look after your bathing, dressing, cooking, and shopping, among others). On top of these, loneliness from loss of loved ones, and feeling unloved and abandonment only adds insult to the injury.

In the elderly, depression may be caused by:

(1) hormonal changes that come with age

(2) crises in health

(3) side effects of medications

(4) changes in circumstances, such as bereavement or moving to a nursing home

(5) dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

Mental depression distorts your view of the world at large. Therefore, it is important to keep depression at bay as you continue to age.

(1) Keep a medication journal: jot down the medications you are taking, your drug tolerance, and drug interactions. According to research findings on seniors taking medications (prescription or over-the-counter drugs), many seniors simply take too much (thinking that if one is good, more must be better), too long, and sometimes even mixed with alcohol. Do not take any medication unnecessarily. Medications may not be good for you. Visit my website: Doctor, You’re Fired!

(2) Maintain a sense of self at any age. This is where spirituality may come in. If you believe that you are made in the image of God, you see your self-worth at any stage of your life, irrespective of your current conditions. Spirituality gives meaning to your existence, as well as fosters your social concern for others. In addition, prayer may take away your anxiety about the future.

(3) Keep yourself mentally active and physically mobile to keep depression away.

(4) Identify the stressors in your life, and do something about them. Stress is a major factor in depression. Learn how to conquer stress.

(5) Talk positively about aging. Daily positive affirmations are a must. Train your mind to change your thoughts about yourself.

Depression does not have to be a part and parcel of the aging process.

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

Continue reading »]]> Anxiety disorders are among the most commonly seen psychiatric conditions. Research shows that approximately 16% of Americans suffer from anxiety issues. One type of anxiety condition is termed specific phobia and 11% of the population is impacted by it. Not many phobia sufferers will try to get professional help. Most of them will find out how to deal with their fears on their own. People who get professional help will most likely do so because their fears are so serious that these fears affect their lives.

It has been discovered that distraction and also desensitization both are effective in dealing with fears. There have been programs just recently designed to help take care of anxiety. Thought Field Therapy (TFT) as well as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) are a couple of these types of systems and they utilize distraction and desensitization. EFT will be the focus of this short article.

Alternative intervention technique is how EFT is actually categorized. The procedure involves tapping or maybe rubbing the ‘acupuncture points’ or ‘meridian points’ as the affected person talks about the things that cause him or her to feel fear.

SRMPH or The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice published a study regarding the effects of EFT. Research on EFT previous to this one were regarded as unscientific because they didn’t follow the scientific method. A team of 119 undergraduate kids volunteered for the research. They were split into four groups. The first cluster was given EFT. Cluster 2 was given placebo. Group 3 was subjected to a modeling treatment. The fourth and last group became the control group. EFT works according to the result of the research. However, the researchers attributed the success to the similarity of EFT with the classic specific phobia treatment procedures. Positive results may be accomplished simply by using distraction and speaking about one’s problems can alleviate the emotional stress.

More experiments were conducted about EFT that observed positive results. A number of these journals no longer can be found, however. Another criticism of these tests is that some of them were backed by groups who’re partial towards alternative therapy.

A blog about natural remedies known as Natural Health Sherpa has an interesting discussion happening about the various researches carried out on EFT. EFT does work as stated by the various scientific tests performed. However, these same scientific tests also state that EFT works not as a result of the so-called meridian points or acupuncture points. EFT is definitely something you might want to look at if you are afflicted by anxiety. It does work and also it doesn’t involve using drugs that may have harmful side effects.

A healthy degree of skepticism is great but at the same time it really won’t hurt to try.

Continue reading »]]> Stress and anxiety are a part of life in modern times. Many times stress and anxiety are caused by such simple tasks as getting ready for a learners test. Despite being a simple task for many people, some people can find the experience very stressful. In addition, things like speaking to others at a party and taking an exam can be stressful because they find it difficult to cope with the fact that their performance is being judged.

Despite the pressure of these feelings on our nerves, we can take some useful steps to make sure that our feelings and sensations do not overpower our composure and balance. One good technique is meditation. Mediation need not be time consuming or complex but it can be as simple as a few deep breathing exercises. Deep breathing is a good way to counter negative thoughts by improving concentration. Focusing on a single thought, object or image can also help to improve focus and concentration. In this way, anxiety and stress before taking a learners permit practice test can be reduced.

Exercise is another habit that you need to incorporate in your daily routine. Exercise has lasting impacts on the physical and mental health of an individual, so you should take active steps to make it a part of your life. Exercise has a positive impact on self-esteem through visible improvements in physical health. Endorphins are released, which cause a person’s mood to become more positive and optimistic. Negative thoughts can be defeated in this simple way.

Sharing negative feelings and thoughts with others is a good way of getting rid of negative thoughts. This means that by sharing our worries with others can reduce our chances of becoming obsessed with them. Sharing such feelings then allows us to think about more positive thoughts that can help us to deal with the upcoming situation more effectively. A person who is about to take a learners permit practice test can talk about his apprehensions with an instructor or examiner so that he may be guided about the best way to tackle the task.

It is also a good idea to engage in some practice before facing the actual task. Solving a sample exam before a real one or taking a driving permit practice test before e learners test is a good way of getting informed and reducing the stress level.

Anxiety and stress are quite manageable if you are willing to take active measures to control it. You can do this by meditating and exercising regularly, developing close relationships with people who care about you and make sure to set some time apart for practice before taking the real test.

Continue reading »]]> Emotional health is as important as physical health. Emotions determine how the mind prepares the body to act or react. Some of the basic emotions include happiness, sadness, fear, anger, satisfaction, and frustration, etc. All emotional responses are triggered by mental perceptions of a given situation. The body is a collection of sensations based on perceptions; it acts or reacts accordingly. But emotions can be an all-consuming force that damages the mind as well as the body.

In most homes, there are often tensions that may strain the emotional health of each member of the family.

To be emotionally healthy, it is important to manage stress at home. The sources of stress at home are:

(1) Sexual problems are a cause and sign of stress. Bedroom problems need to be confronted, not avoided.

(2) A serious illness may result in high levels of stress. Both the diagnosis and treatment of a life-threatening disease can cause stress not only to the person concerned but also to the whole family.

(3) Children can be a source of stress at home. Teenagers can create confrontations not only with the parents, but also between the parents.

(4) Stress at workplace can become stress at home. Many parents often bring their work worries home. A stressful work environment may also create a stressful home environment.

(5) Money is often the direct or indirect cause of all the other problems at home. Paying mortgages, disagreement over what or what not to spend, concerns of job security are some of the most common financial worries facing families today.

(6) Relocation due to employment is another stress factor that involves each member of the family, such as social life, education, buying or selling a house.

Stress at home is inevitable: it is a part and parcel of contemporary living. The art of living well is to have the resources to manage stress at home. The art of living well resources include the following:

(1) Anger management: Stress often causes exhaustion and guilt, which may lead to uncontrollable emotional outbursts, causing even more stress. Therefore, anger management is an important component of managing stress at home. For more information on anger control, visit my web page: Anger Stress Management.

(2) Relaxation techniques: It is important to de-stress ourselves before we become a victim of stress. Meditation is the best technique: it is the most effective and the easiest, if one has the know-how. Other relaxation techniques may include physical exercises (in particular, qi gong) and breathing exercises (such as tai chi breathing).

(3) Time management: Time stress is one of the sources of domestic stress. There are deadlines to meet, meals to cook, appointments to make—they all strain our emotional health. Learn to prioritize. Good time management helps copying with stress at home. Effective time and life management is a survival skill in contemporary living.

(4) Smart money management: Smart money management not only avoids unnecessary financial problems but also creates better financial health. Visit my website: Smart Money Management.

(5) Spirituality: Spirituality plays a pivotal role in the emotional health of the family. Living in faith may resolve many problems that cause stress at home. For more information on spirituality, visit my website: The Tallest Order—Living in Faith.

(6) Counseling: Seek professional help, if needs be.

The Well-Being Way: 101 ways coping with stress at home, dealing with time stress, living in the present, and learning to let go.

Managing stress at home is the art of living well.

 Copyright© by Stephen Lau

Continue reading »]]> Depression is a disease of the mind. It is a common mental disorder affecting millions of people around the world.

Mental depression is more than “seasonal blues.” Many who experience mild depression may think that depressive episodes are no more than “seasonal blues.” And many who have major depression turn to antidepressants as the “magic bullet” to treat their mental disorder.

But mental depression is a very complex mental disorder. Its causes may be attributed to many factors, including brain chemicals. However, nutrient deficiency may also adversely affect the chemicals in the brain.

Specifically, magnesium deficiency is responsible for panic attacks and premenstrual syndrome, which are also symptoms of mental depression. In addition, magnesium deficiency may create many emotional problems due to stress. Physical symptoms of magnesium deficiency include backaches, constipation, cramps, muscle tension, and neck pain.

Magnesium is an important co-factor in enzymatic reactions in the human body, without which there will be no biochemical reaction. Magnesium deficiency is responsible for neurotransmission abnormalities, affecting the brain chemicals.

Healthy eating helps you avoid magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is found in whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes.

According to Dr. James D. Gordon of Georgetown University School of Medicine, eliminate all processed foods with additives, preservatives, and food coloring. “You were created to eat whole foods, not pop tarts,” said Dr. Gordon.

Healthy eating may help you overcome your depression without your antidepressants.

Remember, eat only super foods.

Copyright© by Stephen Lau