Living in a stress free society is like a gold fish living in a glass bowl of eternally clean water that no longer necessitates changes. In the fast paced times we have nowadays, the high demands of day-to-day living and the continuous strife for progress in the name of modernization and industrialization put a burden on all of us, heightening our stress and exhausting us much more than we would have been if we were living in the past. This reality also increases the negative effects of stress on our overall health and well-being. Not spared from this, are pregnant women.
Pregnancy can be a very stressful time despite the increased rest privileges and modern medications intended for improving the mothers' and the babies' health, which are provided these days for their care. Although studies have not concluded the negative effects that stress may have to the unborn child, extended subjection to it could have seriously negative implications. To avoid these risks that may endanger the well-being and life of your unborn child and yourself, try these effective stress relief measures.
As with any other circumstance, the first step in relieving stress would be to identify the cause. One effective suggestion is for you to keep a journal where you would jot down the things or situations that stresses you out on a daily basis. Observing the patterns and frequency of their occurrences would help you identify the source of your stress. More often than not, the cause is inconspicuous. Jotting it down would make everything visible for your analysis and study.
If the cause of your stress is your obligations, then the best way to deal with it is to learn how to prioritize. To do this, create a list of the things you do every day. The moment it is written on paper, you would be able to see the cause and eventually come up with a solution for it.
Should finances turn out as the main source of your stress, then the best way to address your worries about it would be to make some decisions and always stock up on your finances. The most effective measure would be to list down all of your expenditures even the smallest one. As soon as you have determined your expenses , create a budget and accommodate it. This will help you decide whether you just have to take a leave at work or stay home during your entire pregnancy.
No matter what the cause may be, there are several options available for you in relieving stress. You just have to find the best way that suits you and your situation. Most women find relief in having a confidante who would be willing to listen as they unburden themselves by talking about their worries.
If it is particularly difficult for you to find a confidante, then seek a counselor who can both listen and offer you good advice. Just a few sessions with him/her and you would see a remarkable difference. Talking to him/her helps you a lot in working out your feelings.
These proven stress relief methods have also been known to help pregnant women. Go and check them out for yourself: prenatal yoga, meditation or prayer, deep breathing exercises, massage, and getting substantial amounts of quality rest.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
About Anxiety Disorders
In our society nowadays, it is hard to detect people who are suffering from anxiety. Although it is considered as one of the most common mental health dilemmas, it is unusual to find sufferers voluntarily seeking psychiatric treatment. This is a result of the stigma most people attach to
anyone who seeks psychiatric therapy, counseling, or treatment. Common perception has it that people seeing shrinks are instantaneously classified as lunatics. What most of us are not aware of is that there is a multitude of emotional and mental disorders that could afflict any of us and it does not necessarily mean that we have totally lost our marbles and would readily run amok at the slightest provocation.
However, this stigma is so strong that the sufferers themselves are reluctant to consult psychiatrists who are the only ones capable of treating anxiety disorders for fear of being called crazy. Deliberate denial of their problem does not only hinder them from seeking medical attention, but it also encourages them to rely on self-medications, which is more disadvantageous to the point of being harmful to them. Thus, it comes as no surprise that majority of them are forced to live a self-imposed life of discomfort brought about by this stigma they themselves accept.
Below are the many different kinds of anxiety disorders. It is important that we become familiarized with them so as to avoid falling into the trap of attaching ourselves to this harmful stigma, which is basically a result of ignorance.
Panic Disorder
Although panic attacks are symptoms mainly identified with panic disorder, it does not automatically follow that if you experience them you automatically have the aforementioned ailment. Because panic attacks are terrifying, sometimes a person experiencing them is likely to think that he or she has heart disease. Basically panic attacks are identified through the following symptoms: palpitation, discomfort, breathing difficulty, fear of dying, tightening of the chest, choking, trembling, light-headedness, dizziness, distress in the abdominal area, hot flushes or chills, numbness or tingling, fear that you are going crazy, and feeling that you are beyond yourself.
Phobia
People with phobias experience a very forceful fear associated with certain things or circumstances. During instances of exposure to the latter, the person involved is liable to be very uncomfortable.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
A person riddled with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is likely to experience any or both of the following syndromes:
Distressful ideas or images that occur frequently
A compulsion to do specific activities repeatedly; which elicits feelings of distress, anxiety, or dread.
General Anxiety Disorder
People encumbered with General Anxiety Disorder(GAD) often experiences many anxieties and has the inclination to worry more than other people.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
People who are either subjected to extremely traumatic events or has witnessed them are bound to come down with post-traumatic stress disorder. These circumstances are characterized by the following: feelings of helplessness, terror, and inability to move.
anyone who seeks psychiatric therapy, counseling, or treatment. Common perception has it that people seeing shrinks are instantaneously classified as lunatics. What most of us are not aware of is that there is a multitude of emotional and mental disorders that could afflict any of us and it does not necessarily mean that we have totally lost our marbles and would readily run amok at the slightest provocation.
However, this stigma is so strong that the sufferers themselves are reluctant to consult psychiatrists who are the only ones capable of treating anxiety disorders for fear of being called crazy. Deliberate denial of their problem does not only hinder them from seeking medical attention, but it also encourages them to rely on self-medications, which is more disadvantageous to the point of being harmful to them. Thus, it comes as no surprise that majority of them are forced to live a self-imposed life of discomfort brought about by this stigma they themselves accept.
Below are the many different kinds of anxiety disorders. It is important that we become familiarized with them so as to avoid falling into the trap of attaching ourselves to this harmful stigma, which is basically a result of ignorance.
Panic Disorder
Although panic attacks are symptoms mainly identified with panic disorder, it does not automatically follow that if you experience them you automatically have the aforementioned ailment. Because panic attacks are terrifying, sometimes a person experiencing them is likely to think that he or she has heart disease. Basically panic attacks are identified through the following symptoms: palpitation, discomfort, breathing difficulty, fear of dying, tightening of the chest, choking, trembling, light-headedness, dizziness, distress in the abdominal area, hot flushes or chills, numbness or tingling, fear that you are going crazy, and feeling that you are beyond yourself.
Phobia
People with phobias experience a very forceful fear associated with certain things or circumstances. During instances of exposure to the latter, the person involved is liable to be very uncomfortable.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
A person riddled with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is likely to experience any or both of the following syndromes:
Distressful ideas or images that occur frequently
A compulsion to do specific activities repeatedly; which elicits feelings of distress, anxiety, or dread.
General Anxiety Disorder
People encumbered with General Anxiety Disorder(GAD) often experiences many anxieties and has the inclination to worry more than other people.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
People who are either subjected to extremely traumatic events or has witnessed them are bound to come down with post-traumatic stress disorder. These circumstances are characterized by the following: feelings of helplessness, terror, and inability to move.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Handling Depression: A Six-Step Guide
When someone says that he or she is depressed, most people react by telling the person to just “snap out” of it. But, as current medical studies show, depression is not something one can just snap out of. Often coupled with a social anxiety disorder or rooted in emotional abuse, depression is a clinical condition often characterized by a variety of symptoms like extreme sadness, mood swings, and loss of interest in life. Fortunately, all is not lost even if you are diagnosed with depression. Here are six tips that can save you from depression:
1. Acknowledge your condition and seek professional medical help.
Acknowledgment is the first step towards treatment for depression. Once you have acknowledged that you do have the symptoms of someone experiencing depression, seek professional medical help. You can talk to a psychiatrist who can help you address your fears about seeking depression treatment.
2. Determine the cause of your depression.
Depression can be caused by a variety of factors and identifying its cause is winning half the battle. Causes can range from excessive stress and anxiety to phobia. Once you acknowledge the existence of your depression and have identified its cause with the help of your doctor, the two of you can work through a variety of options to cure your condition.
3. Take the prescribed medication under the strict guidance of your doctor.
More than just stabilizing your moods to control your depression, prescribed medicines by your doctor can help you get back on track. Similar to anti-anxiety medication, depression medication works by correcting the chemical imbalances in your body that trigger emotional overdrives.
4. Minimize stress and anxiety.
Feelings of despair and losing control can be exacerbated by stress and anxiety. As such, anti-depression drugs are best taken with stress management techniques. Some of the most popular techniques you can use to temper your depression include talking to a counselor, listening to soothing music, and living healthy.
5. Get educated and learn more about your condition.
Knowledge is power – and you certainly need as much power as you can get when you are depressed. Surf the 'Net, talk to health professionals, read journals, and learn about related conditions. You can ask your doctor about emotional abuse, social anxiety disorder, and even phobia. By being informed about your condition, you can be empowered in controlling it.
6. Join depression support groups or organizations.
Talking about how you feel about your depression and the steps you are taking to control it with other people who are in the same boat serves to purposes. First, you learn from their techniques and their experiences in dealing with depression. Second, all of you serve as inspiration to each other in taking control of your lives once again.
Do not let the stigma of seeking psychiatric help detain you from seeking treatment for your depression. It is far more unhealthy to wallow in self-pity and despair than to endure a few awkward questions from people who are there to help you. Take control of your life and do what is best for your health – seek treatment.
1. Acknowledge your condition and seek professional medical help.
Acknowledgment is the first step towards treatment for depression. Once you have acknowledged that you do have the symptoms of someone experiencing depression, seek professional medical help. You can talk to a psychiatrist who can help you address your fears about seeking depression treatment.
2. Determine the cause of your depression.
Depression can be caused by a variety of factors and identifying its cause is winning half the battle. Causes can range from excessive stress and anxiety to phobia. Once you acknowledge the existence of your depression and have identified its cause with the help of your doctor, the two of you can work through a variety of options to cure your condition.
3. Take the prescribed medication under the strict guidance of your doctor.
More than just stabilizing your moods to control your depression, prescribed medicines by your doctor can help you get back on track. Similar to anti-anxiety medication, depression medication works by correcting the chemical imbalances in your body that trigger emotional overdrives.
4. Minimize stress and anxiety.
Feelings of despair and losing control can be exacerbated by stress and anxiety. As such, anti-depression drugs are best taken with stress management techniques. Some of the most popular techniques you can use to temper your depression include talking to a counselor, listening to soothing music, and living healthy.
5. Get educated and learn more about your condition.
Knowledge is power – and you certainly need as much power as you can get when you are depressed. Surf the 'Net, talk to health professionals, read journals, and learn about related conditions. You can ask your doctor about emotional abuse, social anxiety disorder, and even phobia. By being informed about your condition, you can be empowered in controlling it.
6. Join depression support groups or organizations.
Talking about how you feel about your depression and the steps you are taking to control it with other people who are in the same boat serves to purposes. First, you learn from their techniques and their experiences in dealing with depression. Second, all of you serve as inspiration to each other in taking control of your lives once again.
Do not let the stigma of seeking psychiatric help detain you from seeking treatment for your depression. It is far more unhealthy to wallow in self-pity and despair than to endure a few awkward questions from people who are there to help you. Take control of your life and do what is best for your health – seek treatment.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Things That Stress Us Out
There is no way for anyone who is alive and thrives in the modern world to ever avoid stress. As natural as breathing itself, stress prevails in most of the activities we do on a day-to-day basis. Although most of us have an innate ability to perform stress management on our own, there are certain situations that prove to be too much for us that handling them by ourselves could compound our stress further.
Stressful situations vary in accordance to their difficulty, which directly affect the amount of stress any of us could obtain should we undergo them. Hence, in dealing with stressful prevalent in these situations the best means would be to deal with the causes themselves. And the only way to deal with them is to stay away from them. Below are the three most stressful circumstances we should try to keep away from as much as we could lest we seek to punish ourselves.
Spreading ourselves too thin
Balancing too many activities at once may give us a short-lived high because we tend to derive satisfaction from the thought that we have what it takes to accomplish them despite difficulties. However, this sense of gratification can only persist during the first few stages where we are most likely to succeed. Halfway through everything, we can find ourselves exhausted and unnerved, for we have used up most of our energies without even accomplishing a single task. Furthermore, the thought that we have several tasks to complete and each one only half done would add to our stress, sapping what little energy is left in us. As a result, our speed and accuracy in tackling the tasks would nosedive; we would struggle to finish, praying and hoping that we would manage to complete at least one of them. All in all the stress that we have to deal with in the face of such a demanding situation could really burden us so much to the extent that we might not succeed in finishing any of the tasks we had undertaken.
Not doing what you can do today
One of the most typical causes of stress is procrastination. Delaying our responsibilities for a much later time would only multiply the amount of stress involved therein. A typical attitude borne of laziness and/or poor judgment, putting off what we must do today in order to do what we desire (usually something non-urgent or of less importance than the task at hand) would only drive us to the edge once we get around to doing them. Due to time constraint, the pressure accelerates to debilitating heights and the outcome: we are driven crazy because we have to expend maximum effort and energy into the long hours we have to put into completing these tasks, which would have been much simpler if only we did not delay doing them.
Having to deal with “crazy makers”
There are people who challenge us, and there are people who inspire us. But then again, like black and white, there is a unique breed of people who seems to have existed for the sheer purpose of destroying our life. These people are called”crazy makers.” As to why they are referred to as such, the term itself provides the explanation. And if we are at a loss as to what exactly these “crazy makers” do, well, they make life troublesome for us until we are on the verge of losing our minds. They criticize us and find fault in everything we do every chance they get. They give unsolicited advice and comments aimed at denigrating us. All the negativity they surround us with pulls us down and stresses us out. The only consolation we could derive from them is that they do not necessarily drive us crazy through a direct and nasty manner. But this barely does anything to decrease the effect their black remarks have on us. And since fighting them verbally or physically would only mean that we're stooping to their level(which makes us no different from them, really); then it would be best if we just do our best to detach from them and kick them out of our lives completely.
Stressful situations vary in accordance to their difficulty, which directly affect the amount of stress any of us could obtain should we undergo them. Hence, in dealing with stressful prevalent in these situations the best means would be to deal with the causes themselves. And the only way to deal with them is to stay away from them. Below are the three most stressful circumstances we should try to keep away from as much as we could lest we seek to punish ourselves.
Spreading ourselves too thin
Balancing too many activities at once may give us a short-lived high because we tend to derive satisfaction from the thought that we have what it takes to accomplish them despite difficulties. However, this sense of gratification can only persist during the first few stages where we are most likely to succeed. Halfway through everything, we can find ourselves exhausted and unnerved, for we have used up most of our energies without even accomplishing a single task. Furthermore, the thought that we have several tasks to complete and each one only half done would add to our stress, sapping what little energy is left in us. As a result, our speed and accuracy in tackling the tasks would nosedive; we would struggle to finish, praying and hoping that we would manage to complete at least one of them. All in all the stress that we have to deal with in the face of such a demanding situation could really burden us so much to the extent that we might not succeed in finishing any of the tasks we had undertaken.
Not doing what you can do today
One of the most typical causes of stress is procrastination. Delaying our responsibilities for a much later time would only multiply the amount of stress involved therein. A typical attitude borne of laziness and/or poor judgment, putting off what we must do today in order to do what we desire (usually something non-urgent or of less importance than the task at hand) would only drive us to the edge once we get around to doing them. Due to time constraint, the pressure accelerates to debilitating heights and the outcome: we are driven crazy because we have to expend maximum effort and energy into the long hours we have to put into completing these tasks, which would have been much simpler if only we did not delay doing them.
Having to deal with “crazy makers”
There are people who challenge us, and there are people who inspire us. But then again, like black and white, there is a unique breed of people who seems to have existed for the sheer purpose of destroying our life. These people are called”crazy makers.” As to why they are referred to as such, the term itself provides the explanation. And if we are at a loss as to what exactly these “crazy makers” do, well, they make life troublesome for us until we are on the verge of losing our minds. They criticize us and find fault in everything we do every chance they get. They give unsolicited advice and comments aimed at denigrating us. All the negativity they surround us with pulls us down and stresses us out. The only consolation we could derive from them is that they do not necessarily drive us crazy through a direct and nasty manner. But this barely does anything to decrease the effect their black remarks have on us. And since fighting them verbally or physically would only mean that we're stooping to their level(which makes us no different from them, really); then it would be best if we just do our best to detach from them and kick them out of our lives completely.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Just Depressed? Or Is It Depression?
There are many anti-depressant medicines online that offers. Feeling depressed every once in a while especially when we're going through a “not so nice” phase in our life is typical. Everybody feels this way sometimes, right? Usually, you would comfort yourself by thinking that it would soon go away on its own. After all, it's just another bad day. However, if that bad day lasts longer than it typically does, and as time wears on, you find yourself being dragged farther downwards, then maybe, just maybe, it's already depression.
But where do we draw the line between feeling depressed and suffering from depression? Most of the time people who are beleaguered by this seriousmood disorderare not even aware that they already have it. And by the time everyone realizes that maybe it could be something more serious than just being unhappy about something, it may be too late.
So before you even find yourself nearing the end of you rope, it is best if you seek psychiatric help right away. Give yourself another chance at life. For tips on how to find out if you could be suffering from depression or not, read carefully the indicators listed below.
You no longer find pleasure or enjoyment in the things and activities you know you love. And this includes sex. The interest and passion have withered away, and everything is just a wash of drab gray.
You are lethargic and always feeling exhausted. This remains true even if you hardly moved a muscle throughout the day.
You experience difficulty in recalling things, even those that you know you should have known all the time. All of a sudden you have become forgetful, when as far as you're concerned you have a fairly good memory.
It is hard for you to focus. You constantly find yourself getting distracted or losing your train of thought or concentration.
You don't sleep like you used to. There are times when you just can't sleep even if you're bone-tired from working all day. At times, you just awake in the middle of the night, and when you try to go back to sleep, you can't. But then again, there are also days wherein you still crave for a much-needed nap even when you've had more than 10 hours of sleep the night before. You don't really have to experience all of these funny changes in your sleep pattern. Having one or two of them is enough to alert you that there could be something wrong with your moods.
Your appetite has also made a 180 degree turn. So it's either you find yourself gaining weight or losing it. Either way, it could be indicative of depression.
Life is suddenly devoid of meaning; you feel like a worthless piece of scum drifting aimlessly, headed nowhere. This makes you contemplate on committing suicide.
You experience physical pains; which could include stomach pain, headache, and muscle pain. You can't tell why you have them, and they don't respond to the usual treatments. In medical language, these are referred to as somatic symptoms.
But where do we draw the line between feeling depressed and suffering from depression? Most of the time people who are beleaguered by this seriousmood disorderare not even aware that they already have it. And by the time everyone realizes that maybe it could be something more serious than just being unhappy about something, it may be too late.
So before you even find yourself nearing the end of you rope, it is best if you seek psychiatric help right away. Give yourself another chance at life. For tips on how to find out if you could be suffering from depression or not, read carefully the indicators listed below.
You no longer find pleasure or enjoyment in the things and activities you know you love. And this includes sex. The interest and passion have withered away, and everything is just a wash of drab gray.
You are lethargic and always feeling exhausted. This remains true even if you hardly moved a muscle throughout the day.
You experience difficulty in recalling things, even those that you know you should have known all the time. All of a sudden you have become forgetful, when as far as you're concerned you have a fairly good memory.
It is hard for you to focus. You constantly find yourself getting distracted or losing your train of thought or concentration.
You don't sleep like you used to. There are times when you just can't sleep even if you're bone-tired from working all day. At times, you just awake in the middle of the night, and when you try to go back to sleep, you can't. But then again, there are also days wherein you still crave for a much-needed nap even when you've had more than 10 hours of sleep the night before. You don't really have to experience all of these funny changes in your sleep pattern. Having one or two of them is enough to alert you that there could be something wrong with your moods.
Your appetite has also made a 180 degree turn. So it's either you find yourself gaining weight or losing it. Either way, it could be indicative of depression.
Life is suddenly devoid of meaning; you feel like a worthless piece of scum drifting aimlessly, headed nowhere. This makes you contemplate on committing suicide.
You experience physical pains; which could include stomach pain, headache, and muscle pain. You can't tell why you have them, and they don't respond to the usual treatments. In medical language, these are referred to as somatic symptoms.
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