Anxiety & Depression

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health concerns in our society. They are often experienced as a complex set of emotional and functional challenges.
The science of mind-body medicine helps us understand the ongoing connection between the mind and body and see how anxiety and depression may be triggered by a variety of factors. These can include nutritional, psychological, physical, emotional, environmental, social, and spiritual factors, as well as genetic tendencies or brain disease. While we often hear about a biochemical cause, meaning that certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters are out of balance, it is not clear if the level of neurotransmitters is the actual cause of anxiety and depression, or simply a symptom that a person is anxious or depressed.
Anxiety and depression are not the same, but they often occur together. It is not uncommon for people with depression to experience anxiety and people with anxiety to become depressed. There is also overlap in some of the treatments, so it is beneficial to learn about both conditions.

Depression

Depression is a common disorder, affecting over 350 million people worldwide. It is a disabling condition that adversely affects a person's family, work, or school life; sleeping and eating habits; and general health. In the United States, the incidence of depression has increased every year in the past century, and now, according to the Centers for Disease Control, one out of ten people report experiencing a depressive episode.
Depression is typically characterized by low energy and mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Symptoms include:

• Sleep disorders (too much or too little)
• Shifts in appetite and weight (too much or too little)
• Irritability or anxiety
• Chronic physical symptoms, including pain, gastrointestinal disturbances, headaches, etc.
• Loss of energy and fatigue
• Feelings of persistent sadness, guilt, hopelessness, or loss of self-worth
• Thinking difficulties, such as memory loss, challenges concentrating or making decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Some more facts about depression:

• Women are 70% more likely than men to experience depression in their lifetime.
• Men and women experience depression differently—while women tend to experience sadness and guilt, men often feel restless or angry and are more likely to turn to alcohol and drugs to cope.
• Only 50% of people actively seek conventional treatment for depression, although a majority of people do find some relief through treatment.
• Depression causes unnecessary suffering and is a risk factor for suicide.
• Women and adults between the ages of 45 and 64 are most likely to meet the criteria for major depression; however, over 3% of youth ages 13-18 have also experienced a debilitating depressive episode.

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Anxiety

Anxiety may be a normal reaction to stress, and it can serve as a prompt to deal with difficult situations. However, when anxiety becomes excessive, it may fall under the classification of an anxiety disorder. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America estimates that almost one out of five people suffer from an anxiety disorder, making it the most common mental disorder in the United States.
Anxiety disorder is characterized by emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms that create an unpleasant feeling that is typically described as uneasiness, fear, or worry. The worry is frequently accompanied by physical symptoms, especially fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, muscle aches, difficulty swallowing, trembling, twitching, irritability, sweating, and hot flashes. Emotional symptoms include fear, racing thoughts, and a feeling of impending doom. People suffering from anxiety often withdraw and seek to avoid people or certain places.
While generalized anxiety disorder is the most common, there are other anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Using an Integrated Approach

The recommendations in this article take an integrative mental health approach, which incorporates health-promoting lifestyle changes; evidence-based integrative therapies and healing practices; and mainstream interventions, including psychosocial therapies and the judicious use of medication. We cover each of these areas in detail--click the links or see the menu on the left at the top of this page.
The relatively new field of integrative mental health is a holistic model that provides a useful perspective on brain health and the treatment of depression and anxiety. Integrative mental health looks at the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual health of the individual and uses evidence-based treatments from both traditional healing systems and modern scientific practices. For more information, see The International Network of Integrative Mental Health.

Optimizing Brain Health

While depression and anxiety are usually categorized as mental illnesses, we find it more useful to think of them as disruptions in brain health, which is directly related to the physical makeup and mechanisms of the brain, as well as emotional and relational issues.
This perspective highlights the need to take care of the brain, which, like other organs in the body, is impacted by our lifestyle. As such, what we eat, how we move, and the quality of our sleep impact the functioning of our brain. In addition, how we handle stress and other emotions, the quality of our relationships, and our sense of purpose all play a role in brain/mental health.
A new concept of the brain is emerging. Instead of being a static organ that doesn’t change after adolescence, the brain is now seen as having a lifelong dynamic ability to change in response to its environment. Neuroplasticity is the term used to explain the brain’s ability to change (from small cellular changes to complete remapping) in response to new learning, experience, or injury. This new understanding underlines the importance of paying attention to our brain health and development. The brain as an organ (like the heart) needs to experience a “brain-healthy” lifestyle that includes the lifestyle guidelines in this website.

Working with Your Provider Team

When suffering from moderate to severe symptoms of depression or anxiety, it is critical to have a working relationship with a provider, or team of providers, who can help you choose your treatment approach and evaluate its effectiveness. An integrative approach includes psychosocial therapies and the judicious use of medication, as well as evidence-based complementary therapies and health-promoting lifestyle changes. The providers may include a primary care physician, nurse practitioner, psychotherapist, or other professional who is philosophically aligned with you, as well as integrative therapy providers.
If you are taking any oral natural supplements in combination with conventional prescription medications, it is critical for both the prescriber and the pharmacist to be aware which supplements you are taking.
If there are any thoughts of or plans for suicide, a conventional therapist, psychiatrist, or physician must be involved immediately, even if that necessitates the use of emergency medicine services. If someone doesn’t willingly request help, the family or other supportive members of that person’s social sphere may need to intervene and engage services. The risk for suicide often increases after early improvement induced by either medications or supplements, as the individual finds more energy and a sense of self-control. Support during this time of treatment is critical.

Suggestions to Begin

Ways to start to take care of your brain (and the rest of your body).
1)      Breathe………..slow exhalation helps relax the body
2)      Move your body
3)      Spend time in nature
4)      Get regular, replenishing sleep
5)      Spend time with supportive friends/family
6)      Accept imperfection
7)      Eat real/functional foods and drink lots of water
8)      Meditate (sitting or moving) or take regular time for self-awareness practice
9)      Practice forgiveness
10)    Practice gratitude daily

Source:  http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/conditions/anxiety-depression

More Than US Men That Suffers From Depression And Anxiety Shun Away From … – Times Gazette

In the United States, one in ten males endure from melancholy, however in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, solely lower than half of them step ahead to seek out remedy.
The researchers targeted on the surveillance of greater than 21,000 males throughout the US. Results confirmed that eight.5% of American males are depressed, however solely 41% of them search skilled assist.
Their age variations various perceptions in in search of remedy. Of the lads ages 45 and older, 42.three% stated that they tried to, at the very least, speak to a psychological well being skilled or have taken drugs all through the prior yr, however for males 45 years and beneath, solely 39.2% have completed the identical.
Depression is a critical psychological sickness. It may cause a swinging temper dysfunction that may trigger a persistent feeling of hysteria, lack of curiosity, and unhappiness.
Racial disparities have been evident when the researchers targeted on males, ages 18 to 44. Patterns revealed that white males have a better tendency than youthful black males, in addition to Hispanic males, to hunt medical remedy.
“We suspect that there are a number of social and cultural pressures that lead black and Hispanic males to be much less probably than white males to hunt psychological well being remedies, said lead writer and affiliate director for science, Stephen Blumberg, from CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). He added, “These pressures, which embrace concepts about masculinity and the stigma of psychological sickness, could also be extra pronounced for males of colour …and these similar forces might lead males of shade to be extra more likely to deny or cover emotions of hysteria or melancholy.”
Any hindering issue? Studies confirmed that medical insurance is an enormous hurdle that retains males from discovering a physician.
There’s no vital variations amongst insured males throughout totally different races, however uninsured males, particularly within the age of 18-44, usually tend to search psychological well being providers than their black and Hispanic uninsured counterparts.
The company stated, revision to the ObamaCare (Affordable Care Act), that would come with protection for psychological providers, can tremendously assist in negating these racial variations.
Source:  http://www.vocalrepublic.com/more-than-us-men-that-suffers-from-depression-and-anxiety-shun-away-from-times-gazette/9195/

The Link Between Anxiety and Depression Disorder

Anxiety and depression disorders are not the same although there are similar elements. Depression generates emotions such as hopelessness, despair and anger. Energy levels are usually very low, and depressed people often feel overwhelmed by the day-to-day tasks and personal relationships so essential to life.
A person with anxiety disorder, however, experiences fear, panic or anxiety in situations where most people would not feel anxious or threatened. The sufferer may experience sudden panic or anxiety attacks without any recognized trigger, and often lives with a constant nagging worry or anxiousness. Without treatment, anxiety and depression disorders can restrict a person's ability to work, maintain relationships, or even leave the house.
Both anxiety and depression treatment are similar, which may explain why the two disorders are so often confused. Antidepressant medication is often used for anxiety and depression and behavioral therapy frequently helps people overcome both conditions.

Mindfulness treatment as effective as CBT for depression, anxiety

Group mindfulness treatment is as effective as individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in patients with depression and anxiety, according to a new study from Lund University in Sweden and Region Skåne. This is the first randomized study to compare group mindfulness treatment and individual cognitive behavioral therapy in patients with depression and anxiety in primary health care.

The researchers, led by Professor Jan Sundquist, ran the study at 16 primary health care centres in Skåne, a county in southern Sweden. They trained two mindfulness instructors, from different occupational groups, at each primary health care centre during a 6-day training course.
In spring 2012, patients with depression, anxiety or reactions to severe stress were randomized to either structured group mindfulness treatment with approximately 10 patients per group, or regular treatment (mainly individual CBT). Patients also received a private training programme and were asked to record their exercises in a diary. The treatment lasted 8 weeks. General practitioner and mindfulness instructor Ola Schenström designed the mindfulness training programme and model for training instructors.
A total of 215 patients were included in the study. Before and after treatment, the patients in the mindfulness and regular treatment groups answered questionnaires that estimated the severity of their depression and anxiety. Self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety decreased in both groups during the 8-week treatment period. There was no statistical difference between the two treatments.
"The study's results indicate that group mindfulness treatment, conducted by certified instructors in primary health care, is as effective a treatment method as individual CBT for treating depression and anxiety," says Jan Sundquist. "This means that group mindfulness treatment should be considered as an alternative to individual psychotherapy, especially at primary health care centres that can't offer everyone individual therapy."
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141127112755.htm

Men shouldn’t suffer in silence with depression and anxiety

My dad killed himself and, having struggled with feelings myself, I want to make sure I deal with them properly. You should too

‘Things always change, as long as you give them the chance to.’ Photograph: Alamy

I was 24 when my dad, Peter Manderson, took his own life. We had a troubled relationship and hadn’t spoken to each other for about six years; for no real reason we just stopped. Then one day I got in touch to try and repair some of the damage. It was Boxing Day and we argued over the phone about where to meet. I got angry, and my dad, who was a gentle man, stammered and stuttered. The last words I said to him were: “If I ever see you again I’m going to knock you out.” It all seems so desperately trivial now.
The tragic last hours of Robin Williams’ life have been raked over in minute detail over the past week. Susan Schneider, his wife, has said he was battling depression and anxiety, as well as the early stages of Parkinson’s.
I still don’t know what was going through my dad’s mind when he killed himself in a park not far from where he lived in Brentwood, Essex, in April 2008. I’ll never know. The last time I saw him alive was my 18th birthday. He had been in and out of my life for years. I was brought up by my gran in Hackney, east London, because neither of my parents were capable of looking after me. I just wish that he could have reached out to someone, anyone.
The moment I found out my dad had killed himself is as clear today as it was when it happened. That morning I woke up with a sense of dread knowing that something was very wrong. My gran came into my room with tears in her eyes and said: “Stephen, your dad’s dead. He’s hanged himself.”
His death was a complete shock and it’s still a struggle to articulate how I felt. I went through so many emotions that day. At first I was angry with him for doing what he did. I kept thinking, how could he take himself away from me? Williams’ daughter Zelda said something similar about her dad: “I’ll never understand how he could be so loved and not find it in his heart to stay.”
I thought my dad was selfish for taking the easy way out. But then I quickly realised that I was the one who was being selfish for thinking he was selfish. For someone to be able to do that, I don’t think it is cowardice; it’s the only solution they think they have. The last thing I said to him kept replaying in my head – you have no idea how much I regret that the final words he heard from me were anger and hate. I would give anything to change that. I never got a chance to say a proper goodbye or tell him that I loved him.
Last year in Britain, almost 6,000 people killed themselves, leaving behind families struggling for answers. Men aged between 30 and 44 are most at risk. My dad was 43. I later found out that one of his brothers had killed himself two years before and that another brother, whom I am named after, is believed to have died after allowing himself to fall into a diabetic coma.
Communication is a big problem with us men. We don’t like to talk about our problems; we think it makes us look weak. There have been times when I’ve suffered from anxiety and depression. I even had cognitive behavioural therapy and although that didn’t work for me, I did find that talking about things to someone helped the problem seem smaller than it was in my head. It’s important to let things out and not bottle them up.
Society likes to tell you that you have to be happy all the time, and it’s easy to think that if you’re not happy then there’s something wrong with you. But happiness isn’t permanent, it’s not something you can feel all the time – and neither is sadness.
What happened to my dad and uncles makes me want to deal with things. As much as I love my dad, I don’t want to be the father to my child that he was to me. I wrote the song Lullaby about my experience of depression and how it has affected my life. The most important lyrics are the final two lines: “Things always change, as long as you give them the chance to.”
Know that is true. I just wish my dad did.

Source:-  http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/20/men-suffer-depression-anxiety

Five-year-olds treated for depression and anxiety

Children as young as five are being referred for treatment for depression and anxiety, the BBC has found.

Figures showed mental health teams in Sussex are working with more than 1,000 under-18s while in the Solent 324 young people were referred for therapy.
Prescriptions for Fluoxetine, more commonly known as Prozac, have risen 26% in Oxfordshire and 13% in Berkshire from April to September last year.
MPs recently announced an extra £22m to tackle child mental health treatment.
Experts said children are coming under increasing stress because of unemployment, financial problems and substance abuse among their parents.
In February, the NHS Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Sussex estimated it was working with about 330 under-11s and about 830 12 to 18-year-olds with anxiety and/or depression.
While in Dorset, 212 young people were diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety disorder with 118 of them being under 16 at the date of referral.
Plastic animals With the approval of health professionals and his family, the BBC was given access to a therapy room in Sussex, where eight-year-old "Jack" was receiving treatment for anxiety.
Having developed a deep-seated fear of leaving his mother he has been seeing child behaviour experts since he was 18 months old.
"The anxieties, I think started probably very soon after he was born," said child psychologist Jo Russell.
"There were other difficulties in the family, some stresses around employment and finances, and then his parents separated when he was just a toddler."

During his therapy "Jack" dangles his toys from a window, 30ft from the ground

During his therapy, the BBC observed "Jack" wind up a large ball of sticky tape around his hand and tie up his toy plastic animals with string before dangling them out of the window, 30ft above the ground.
"In his mind he's putting that little creature in a position of insecurity," Ms Russell said.
"Will that little creature manage to get to the ground or not? Through that play, this little boy and I have been able to think and talk about how people cope with feeling very insecure."
Jack's mother "Joy" said she knew her son, who has thrown things at her and put holes through doors, was "different" from other children at a young age.
"He gets very like a spring, he gets wound up and explodes," she said.
"He can be very loving and caring and when it's like that it's absolutely amazing but you have the other side which goes along."
After several years of therapy, his mother said "Jack" had improved, but could still be "up and down."
NHS Solent, which covers Southampton and Portsmouth, saw 324 young people with a problem of depression referred to it between September 2010 and August 2011, the youngest of whom was five years old.
It also revealed 378 patients, aged 16 and under, were referred for a range of mental health therapies not just for depression, including cognitive behaviour therapy, anxiety management and art and play therapy.
'Entrenched problems' Its youngest patient, a two-year-old, was referred for specialist child psychotherapy.
Barbara Inkson, child clinical psychology at Solent NHS Trust, said it was seeing an annual rise of about 10% in referrals.
However, its database can only record a reason for referral and not subsequent diagnosis.
"What is clear is that levels of emotional disorders, including depression as well as anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders, are rising in line with other referrals to CAMHS here in the city," she said.

Child psychologist Jo Russell said difficulties within the family can cause stress in children

The charity, Young Minds, said it wants more treatments based in school and the community rather than in mental health units, which it says can be intimidating for children.
The government recently announced an extra £22m funding to tackle child mental health over three years, to expand state-of-the art psychological therapies and extend training for community workers.
Nationally, one in 10 children aged between five and 16 years old has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem and of adults with long-term mental health problems, half will have experienced their first symptoms before the age of 14.
Sarah Brennan, chief executive of Young Minds, said: "Intervening early when a child or young person starts struggling to cope is proven to reduce the likelihood of that young person developing much more severe and entrenched mental health problems.
"It is vital that we invest in children and young people's mental health in order to prevent a generation of children suffering entrenched mental health problems as adults."
Source:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18251582

Five-year-olds treated for depression and anxiety

Children as young as five are being referred for treatment for depression and anxiety, the BBC has found.

Figures showed mental health teams in Sussex are working with more than 1,000 under-18s while in the Solent 324 young people were referred for therapy.
Prescriptions for Fluoxetine, more commonly known as Prozac, have risen 26% in Oxfordshire and 13% in Berkshire from April to September last year.
MPs recently announced an extra £22m to tackle child mental health treatment.
Experts said children are coming under increasing stress because of unemployment, financial problems and substance abuse among their parents.
In February, the NHS Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Sussex estimated it was working with about 330 under-11s and about 830 12 to 18-year-olds with anxiety and/or depression.
While in Dorset, 212 young people were diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety disorder with 118 of them being under 16 at the date of referral.
Plastic animals With the approval of health professionals and his family, the BBC was given access to a therapy room in Sussex, where eight-year-old "Jack" was receiving treatment for anxiety.
Having developed a deep-seated fear of leaving his mother he has been seeing child behaviour experts since he was 18 months old.
"The anxieties, I think started probably very soon after he was born," said child psychologist Jo Russell.
"There were other difficulties in the family, some stresses around employment and finances, and then his parents separated when he was just a toddler."

During his therapy "Jack" dangles his toys from a window, 30ft from the ground

During his therapy, the BBC observed "Jack" wind up a large ball of sticky tape around his hand and tie up his toy plastic animals with string before dangling them out of the window, 30ft above the ground.
"In his mind he's putting that little creature in a position of insecurity," Ms Russell said.
"Will that little creature manage to get to the ground or not? Through that play, this little boy and I have been able to think and talk about how people cope with feeling very insecure."
Jack's mother "Joy" said she knew her son, who has thrown things at her and put holes through doors, was "different" from other children at a young age.
"He gets very like a spring, he gets wound up and explodes," she said.
"He can be very loving and caring and when it's like that it's absolutely amazing but you have the other side which goes along."
After several years of therapy, his mother said "Jack" had improved, but could still be "up and down."
NHS Solent, which covers Southampton and Portsmouth, saw 324 young people with a problem of depression referred to it between September 2010 and August 2011, the youngest of whom was five years old.
It also revealed 378 patients, aged 16 and under, were referred for a range of mental health therapies not just for depression, including cognitive behaviour therapy, anxiety management and art and play therapy.
'Entrenched problems' Its youngest patient, a two-year-old, was referred for specialist child psychotherapy.
Barbara Inkson, child clinical psychology at Solent NHS Trust, said it was seeing an annual rise of about 10% in referrals.
However, its database can only record a reason for referral and not subsequent diagnosis.
"What is clear is that levels of emotional disorders, including depression as well as anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders, are rising in line with other referrals to CAMHS here in the city," she said.

Child psychologist Jo Russell said difficulties within the family can cause stress in children

The charity, Young Minds, said it wants more treatments based in school and the community rather than in mental health units, which it says can be intimidating for children.
The government recently announced an extra £22m funding to tackle child mental health over three years, to expand state-of-the art psychological therapies and extend training for community workers.
Nationally, one in 10 children aged between five and 16 years old has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem and of adults with long-term mental health problems, half will have experienced their first symptoms before the age of 14.
Sarah Brennan, chief executive of Young Minds, said: "Intervening early when a child or young person starts struggling to cope is proven to reduce the likelihood of that young person developing much more severe and entrenched mental health problems.
"It is vital that we invest in children and young people's mental health in order to prevent a generation of children suffering entrenched mental health problems as adults."
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18251582

Mental health a concern in drought

By PHILIP LY

• 
  
  The workers from the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) spoke to communities in Walgett, Brewarrina and Bourke about the services available to them.

MENTAL health workers have visited three drought-stricken towns in the Orana region to help farmers and families deal with depression and anxiety.

The workers from the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) spoke to communities in Walgett, Brewarrina and Bourke about the services available to them.

The visits were made at the request of the state minister for mental health and western NSW, Kevin Humphries.

RAMHP co-ordinator Jenn Caine said community members were often unaware of the services available to assist people experiencing mental health problems because of stress.

She said information was key to ensure rural communities knew what services were available and how they could access them.

"There are simple ways to stay mentally healthy but this can easily be overlooked when experiencing ongoing stress and isolation when being so busy working on the farm," Ms Caine said.

beyondblue Chief Executive Officer Kate Carnell said depression and anxiety levels in cities and rural areas were similar but became problematic in droughts.

She said one in three Australians would experience depression or anxiety at some point in their lives but when people were subjected to prolonged and elevated stress levels, the statistics worsened.

"The increased level of stress does lift the levels of depression and anxiety and unfortunately services may not be accessible in those [drought] areas," Ms Carnell said.

"These are clinical conditions just like a medical condition... the earlier you get help, the quicker you'll recover," she said.

She said suicide rates were an issue where there was a disparity between cities and rural areas.

"Suicide is higher in rural and regional areas than in the cities due to a range of reasons, one of them being the limited access to services," Ms Carnell said.

Ms Caine said the RAMHP aimed to provide information about what help was available to overcome depression or anxiety.

"Distance can easily be eliminated as an obstacle but it's the awareness that is potentially the problem," she said.

Mr Humphries said there was no question that the pressures some people faced during times of adversity, such as a drought, could an have an impact on their lives.

"That's why I have asked the RAMHP to send additional staff out to some of the most drought-affected areas to provide additional support to communities like what help is available and what they do to access it if needed," Mr Humphries said.

RAMHP is a key initiative of the University of Newcastle's Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health.

Source: http://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/2102378/mental-health-a-concern-in-drought/?cs=12

Need Office Naptime?

For decades, American business culture has operated on the idea the sleep is for the lazy or weak and workers both at the top and bottom of the ladder have worn exhaustion like badges of honor. However, growing awareness of the importance of rest may be turning the tides as researchers highlight how sleep deprivation can affect worker productivity.
The latest article from blog Sleep Junkie, titled “Connections Between Sleep & Work Performance”, examines recent research on the subject and looks at potential ways to combat performance-reducing fatigue including napping and healthy rest habits.
One of the studies highlighted in the article comes from researchers in the Netherlands, who sought connections between depression and anxiety, sleep, and work performance in their 2013 survey of data from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. Key findings include that people with anxiety or depressive disorders were considerably more likely to have impaired performance and miss work when they slept under 6 hours, and that insomnia also increased chances of performance impairment.
Other supporting research includes a 2012 study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital that demonstrated increasingly reduced work productivity over a period of one month amongst participants that were limited to less than six hours of sleep. Major historical accidents attributed to a lack of rest, drowsy driving dangers, and a detailed article from the Harvard Business Review are also covered.
Sleep Junkie explains that, although rest gets a bad rap in business, the effects of sleep deprivation can range from reduced productivity to major liabilities, which the Better Sleep Council estimates costs businesses $150 billion per year. As companies become savvy to the issues, many have worked to create more rest-friendly environments. The article lists several companies that offer nap pods or relaxation rooms where employees can rest, including tech giants like Google and Zappos, major news outlets like Huffington Post and New York Times, mattress company Amerisleep, and even ice cream connoisseur Ben and Jerry’s.
The article goes on to explain why companies should consider allowing naps, with several supporting statistics showing improved alertness and performance as well as other benefits. For those who cannot enjoy a midday snooze, Sleep Junkie concludes the article with an overview of healthy sleep hygiene practices to help readers mentally prepare for rest and enjoy sleep better through the night. Readers can also find several other articles on subjects of rest and mattress selection on the website.
SleepJunkie.org is a blog dedicated to all things sleep, from mattresses, bedding, to research and more. With a focus on making mattress research easier, the website offers independent assessments and reviews of the latest brands and technologies. Readers also enjoy timely updates on mattress-related news and expert help in selecting the best mattress to fit their needs and lifestyle.
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/connections-between-sleep/and-work-performance/prweb11596842.htm

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1750431#ixzz2uH43mLMf

Study links steroid-dependent asthma to depression

People with severe asthma who rely on prednisone are more than three times more likely to be depressed than those with severe cases who don't use prednisone and those with mild to moderate asthma, according to a new study from The Netherlands.
Prednisone-dependent asthma patients "deserve" screening for depression and anxiety, the authors say, both to alleviate their suffering and possibly improve their physical health through mental health treatment.
"There's a well-established connection with asthma, as well as chronic illness in general, and higher reports of depression than the general population," Dr. Rebecca Hashim told Reuters Health.
Hashim, an attending psychologist at Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, was not involved in the study.
Prednisone is a steroid anti-inflammatory medication used to treat asthma attacks, often among people with severe symptoms.
Previous research has linked steroid use to depression and other mood problems. And links in both directions have been found between depression and the severity of asthma symptoms.
To examine depression risk among asthma patients, Dr. Marijke Amelink, from the department of Respiratory Medicine at the Academic Medical Centre at the University of Amsterdam, and Dr. Simone Hashimoto, of the Institute of Psychiatry at Leiden University in Leiden, recruited 187 patients.
Among the patients, 67 had severe prednisone-dependent asthma and 47 had severe non-prednisone dependent asthma. Another 73 patients had mild to moderate asthma.
People in the three groups were similar, although prednisone-dependent patients tended to be older, with greater limitations in their ability to breathe.
All patients answered questions about depression and anxiety, as well as questions designed to detect personality traits that could contribute to their risk of mood issues.
The researchers found that patients with severe prednisone-dependent asthma were 3.4 times more likely to be depressed than non-prednisone dependent patients with severe asthma, and 3.5 times more likely to be depressed than patients who had mild to moderate asthma.
The prednisone-dependent patients were also 2.5 times more likely to have anxiety compared to patients with mild to moderate symptoms, but there was no significant difference when compared to those with severe non-prednisone dependent asthma.
The Dutch researchers didn't find any significant differences in personality traits among the participants.
In their report in the journal Respiratory Medicine, the authors point out that non-prednisone-dependent asthma patients had depression and anxiety scores that were similar to those of the general public, while the prednisone-dependent patients had scores similar to patients with other serious medical conditions.
Hashim said the increased risk of depression might be due to the stress of the treatment, rather than severity of illness. This would be similar to other chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, that require complex daily treatment regimens.
"It's not really disease severity so much, but I think what it does speak to is the level of maintenance required," she said, "It reminds you of your illness all the time."
Having long-term untreated depression or anxiety can potentially lead to further illness, especially if it affects patients' ability to take care of their health.
"The more depressed you are, the less likely you're going to be to be able to take care of these responsibilities," she added.
Hashim said it's important for doctors to be screening for depression, adding that caregivers and loved ones can go along on the office visits to express their concerns to their doctors.
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/07/us-steroid-dependent-asthma-idUSBREA161AT20140207

New study to investigate benefits of online treatment of anxiety and depression

The Trinity College Dublin (TCD) School of Psychology has begun the search for participants in a trial to see whether anxiety and/or depression can be treated online.

The project is a collaboration between the TCD team, SilverCloud Health, a Dublin-based developer of online behavioural health and mental wellness solutions, and Aware, Ireland's depression support, education and information organisation.
A person taking part in the trial will self-administer two online treatments with additional support covering Aware’s remit for the treatment of depression, while TCD’s study will focus on the treatment of generalised anxiety in students, seen particularly around exam time.
As part of the Aware trial, researchers are looking to recruit upwards of 300 participants nationwide to evaluate the effectiveness of a supported online delivered treatment intervention for mild to moderate depression.
Support is being provided by Aware-trained volunteers who have experience in using the SilverCloud Health platform. For those looking to avail of Aware’s Life Skills Online programme, the service will be provided free of charge to participants and aims to help people learn new ways to manage feelings of stress, anxiety, worry or depression.

A call for volunteers

TCD will also be looking for 150 volunteers to take part in its study on general anxiety.
A number of countries across the world have already begun to help patients with depression and anxiety using similar online treatments to those using the SilverLight Health technology which has shown to be successful.
The study’s principle investigator is Dr Derek Richards, director of clinical research and innovation with SilverCloud Health and a research fellow at TCD’s School of Psychology who, with the help of the 450 volunteers, will look to depression and anxiety in Ireland.
“Based on the success achieved to date with supported online treatments for depression and anxiety, we believe that participants in both trials will demonstrate significant decreases in symptoms post-intervention and a corresponding increase in quality of life indicators,” said Richards.
Ireland is one of the most affected nations in terms of depression and anxiety, with reported figures of between 7.9pc-12.3pc of the country suffering from depression while an estimated 36pc of the adult student population suffers from clinical anxiety.
Source: http://www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/item/35638-new-study-to-investigate/

How antidepressants work: Pharmacology of anti-depressants

Antidepressants are the drugs used by psychiatrists for treating patients suffering from symptoms such as low mood, lack of self esteem, lack of interest, lethargy, excessive sadness, self regret, feeling of worthlessness…etc, which are collectively known as ‘depressive symptoms’. There are several antidepressants that have been used to treat these symptoms and although it may not bring about a lasting cure, in most instances it can manage the symptoms giving relief to the patient until they are able to cope with such symptoms on their own.

Commonly used antidepressants

Among the most common antidepressants that are being used, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA) are rather common with another category of drugs known as ‘MAO inhibitors’ or monoamine oxidase inhibitors. In order to understand how these antidepressants work, it is necessary to understand ‘what is the basis of depression’ among patients who are having symptomatic depressive illness.

The biochemical basis of depression

According to scientists, the reason for clinical depression could largely be due to the diminished levels of neurotransmitters (e.g serotonin and norephinephrin) within the ‘synaptic junctions’ existing between two neurons in the human brain. The neurons are the ones which transmit signals and the neurotransmitters are the chemical substance which carries a message from one neuron to the next. The transmitters are usually located at the end portion of the neuron known as the ‘synapse’. In response to a transmissible signal such as feeling of hunger, happiness, excitement…etc, the transmitters are released into the synaptic junction. It could them stimulate the receptors at the beginning of the next neuron which initiate a signal propagation. Following stimulating the receiving neuron, the neurotransmitters will again be re-absorbed into their original location in a process known as a ‘re-uptake’. As a result, these transmitters will be able to perform the same function over and over again.
In patients with depression, there seems to be an inherent deficiency of these neurotransmitters and therefore the signals may not be propagated effectively.

The basis of antidepressant actions

Thus, the actions of antidepressants would either be to increase the existence of adequate amount of neurotransmitters within the synaptic junction or else to prevent its natural destruction through a substance known as ‘monoamine oxidase’.

Specific actions of antidepressants

Thus, both SSRIs and TCAs will inhibit the re-uptake process and will make available more neurotransmitters within the synaptic junction. However, the MAO inhibitors will act in a different manner and will inhibit the action of Monoamine oxidase thus preventing the breakdown of the neurotransmitters thereby increasing its availability for normal signal transmission.
Although this is a simplified explanation of how antidepressants are functioning, it captures the most important aspect necessary in explaining the phenomenon.
Source:  http://pandula77.hubpages.com/hub/How-antidepressants-work-Pharmacology-of-anti-depressants

I Battle Depression and Anxiety

My depression started when I was about 15 I found out my father was cheating on my mom by finding a phone number in his jacket pocket after he asked me to grab some change. Later that night I called the number and she told me her name and her relation with my father. I didn't wan to tell my mother, but a year later I found out my mother was having an affair with a 66 year old man who pretended to be mind and my dads "friend" took us to see live music. This is the time I started lashing out after I found out. I didn't talk to anyone or eat anything at school lunch and a kid tried to take my tray so I smashed him across the face with it. I got out on probation for 3 years discover drugs along that journey. They kept me caged in on house arrest which developed my social anxiety issues I can't go anywhere without a Xanax or a bag of heroin. I've tried every anti psychotic and anti depressant known, and nothing had helped.

Source: http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Battle-Depression-And-Anxiety/3796681

Traveling with Anxiety Disorder -How one woman with anxiety disorder overcame her fear of traveling.

Traveling this holiday season? You’re in good company: In 2011, an estimated 91.9 million Americans traveled 50 miles or more from home during the holiday season, according to the AAA.

For most individuals, traveling offers an exhilarating opportunity to break out of the mundane rhythms of everyday life and explore new sights, sounds and tastes. But for individuals who suffer from severe anxiety disorders, the mere thought of traveling may provoke intense fear, dread and even panic.

RELATED: Depression or Anxiety: How to Tell the Difference?

“Travel constantly exposes you to new and different things, and comes with a range of unknowns and what-ifs—a potentially endless array of scenarios that can pose a threat to someone trying to keep their nerves under control by way of controlling their environment,” says Rita Anya Nara, author of the book The Anxious Traveler.

Rita knows firsthand how devastating it can be to live with an anxiety disorder. For years, Rita was paralyzed by severe anxiety that inhibited her from doing the things she loved. She struggled with numerous forms of anxiety disorders, including seasonal affective disorder, panic disorder and social anxiety disorder. One day, tired of passively sitting and watching life go by, Rita overcame her dread of the unfamiliar and hopped on a plane. To date, she has ventured to 38 countries and has largely conquered her debilitating anxiety symptoms.

[ Author and blogger Rita Anya Nara[/caption]

Below, Rita shares her “top 10” strategies for conquering anxiety and exploring foreign lands with ease.

Start small. “Start out with small journeys in relatively nearby areas and regions, and by going for a short time with someone you trust and/or love.”

Come clean. “Be honest with yourself – and your doctor – about your phobias and disorder(s).”

Don’t switch it up. “Don’t abandon medications, make rash lifestyle changes, or take an all-or-nothing approach to feeling better.”

Physically prepare. “Recognize and learn how to manage the various physical impacts of traveling that are often a significant (but inadequately addressed) mental hurdle to going abroad. Talk to your doctor about jet lag, travel fatigue, acclimatization, altitude sickness, your sensitivity to environmental factors such as air or water quality, and other similar issues before you leave.“

Focus on you. “Don’t overwhelm yourself worrying about culture shock, etiquette and local customs, and language barriers.  Once you stop paying so much attention to yourself, it’s far easier to assimilate than you’d think.  Remember, you are a guest in another country; focus on being a good guest, and you will bring out the best in people around the world.”

Read more: http://www.pjstar.com/article/20131220/NEWS/312209940/10938/LIFESTYLE

I Battle Depression and Anxiety

Don't be afraid of giving.

For a while, we may need to back off from giving as we learn to discern the difference between healthy giving and caretaking, which leave us feeling victimized and others feeling resentful.

This is a temporary spot.

To be healthy, to do our part in this spiritual way of life, to be part of the endless cycle of the Universe, guided by our Creator, we need to give and receive.

Both parts are important.

What is healthy giving?

This is a fine lined behavior each of us must seek to understand for ourselves. It is giving that feels good and does not leave us feeling victimized.

It is giving that holds the giver and the receiver in high esteem.

It is giving based on a desire to do it rather than from a sense of guilt, pity, shame, or obligation.

It is giving with no strings attached. Or it is giving based on a clean, direct contract.

Whether it is giving our time, efforts, energy, comfort, nurturing, money, or ourselves, it is giving that we can afford.

Giving is part of the chain of giving and receiving. We can learn to give in healthy ways; we can learn to give in love. We need to keep an eye on our giving, to make sure it has not crossed the line into caretaking. But we need to learn to give in ways that work for us and others.

Today, God, guide me in my giving. Help me give to others in healthy ways. Help me give what feels right, what feels good, what feels clean, and what I can afford.

From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©1990, Hazelden Foundation.
Source: http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Battle-Depression-And-Anxiety/3755028

For women, having more male friends than female friends reduces risk of stress, depression, drama & mental disorders.

Findings have indicated that women who have more male friends than female friends tend to enjoy better mental health. It seems counterintuitive to hear that female friendships are often unhealthy to the point of inducing stress and depression, especially because compared to their male counterparts, women are considered to be relational, empathetic and intuitive beings.

Image source: Leland Francisco

However, contrary to the widely acclaimed social benefits of having an empathetic nature, one of the downsides of this particular virtue is the risk of assigning too much meaning to another’s actions and words. The risk this poses to the survival of a friendship grows exponentially when the meaning assigned, takes a negative stance. Similarly, because women tend to place a lot of importance on intuitive understanding in friendships and relationships, a clear articulation of personal needs and discussion of problems when they do arise is rarely if ever delivered, simply because ‘he or she should have know better’. Books have been published in the last decade geared toward reporting real life stories and helping women maintain their friendships with other women. One such book is entitled “The Friend Who Got Away: Twenty Women’s True-Life Tales of Friendships that Blew Up, Burned out, or Faded Away” and is indicative of the magnitude of the problems that female friendships often lead to.
Since the advent of feminism in the late 18th century, the promise of feminine solidarity that seemed to be a pre-requisite to defending the rights of women has remained somewhat elusive. More specifically, a number of feminist scholars have argued that it is often other women who perpetuate gender stereotypes in society. Such women can be our mothers, sisters and our friends. This reinforcement of gender stereotypes is often done unconsciously through seemingly innocent comments and friendly suggestions. One example is a mother who places more importance on her daughter’s looks and lady-like mannerisms than on her intelligence. Another example is being told by a well-meaning friend that making the first move in a romantic situation is a big faux pas and subsequently being judged or gossiped about if one chooses to ignore that well-meaning advice. Women tend to judge each other more harshly, and the values on which that judgment rests are often rooted in misogynist ideas. However, that being said, research has also shown that the competition among women lessens with age. Menopausal women tend to be more cooperative with their peers, than their younger counterparts.
Studies have shown that friendships among men tend to last longer than friendships among women. One such study done with students in co-ed universities found that men tended to show higher satisfaction with their roommates (whether or not there had been conflict) than their female counterparts. A number of findings in this study indicated that men tended to be more tolerant and forgiving of other’s shortcomings. However, in spite of the benefits associated with having male friends, many remain skeptical of the possibility of men and women being just friends. Can relationships between members of the opposite sex remain strictly platonic? Well, answering that question would require an entirely different post.
By Sira Baldé
Source: http://factualfacts.com/health-facts/for-women-having-more-male-friends-than-female-friends-reduces-risk-of-stress-depression-drama-mental-disorders/

Variant linked to susceptibility to depression, anxiety and memory loss

Variant linked to susceptibility to depression, anxiety and memory loss

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have discovered why a tiny alteration in a brain gene, found in 20 percent of the population, contributes to the risk for anxiety, depression and memory loss.
Their discovery, reported in Nature Communications, describes new functions for the alteration, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene. This gene is a powerful regulator of the growth and function of neurons, and the establishment of brain circuitry. The common alteration occurs when a single "letter" of BDNF's genetic code is "misspelled."
The team of investigators, led by Dr. Clay Bracken, associate research professor of biochemistry and director of the nuclear magnetic resonance facility, Dr. Barbara Hempstead, professor of medicine, and Dr. Francis Lee, professor of psychiatry, all at Weill Cornell Medical College, discovered that the alteration appears to induce shrinkage of neurons from the hippocampus (an important region for memory and emotion), reducing connectivity between brain cells.
The discovery upends the prevailing theory about how the BDNF SNP alters the function of the brain, says Dr. Agustin Anastasia, first author of the article and a postdoctoral fellow in the Hempstead lab. "Research on BDNF is very active worldwide, and the conventional wisdom of the field was that the SNP reduced the amount of BDNF that was secreted. Therefore, many investigators were trying to increase production of the protein -- but this effort was only moderately successful."
"While the SNP does decrease the amount of BDNF in neurons, it generates a protein, the Met66 prodomain, that is different from the Val66 prodomain that is generated by the 80 percent of the human population that does not carry the SNP," Dr. Hempstead says. "The Met66 prodomain binds to specific proteins on the surface of neurons, to induce the pruning or shrinkage of these neurons."
The findings offer mechanistic insight into why some depression and anxiety runs in families, Dr. Lee says. "There can be a heritable component to these diseases and it makes sense that a common variant in a gene could be involved," he says. "Just like hypertension contributes to the risk for heart disease, the BDNF alteration increases the risk of depression, anxiety and memory disorders -- but is not the sole reason why they occur."
Still, targeted treatment for the genetic alteration could provide the first true benefit for affected patients, who often don't respond to traditional treatments, Dr. Lee says. "We can easily test patients for the mutation by using a simple blood test," he says. "We just need novel targeted treatments that alter the effects of the BDNF SNP-- and now we have a good lead on what that therapy should do."
The other half of the story
In 2006, Dr. Lee discovered that neuronal secretion of mutated BDNF was reduced, compared to secretion of wild-type BDNF, and generated a mouse that expressed the human BDNF SNP. That study appeared in Science. "It turns out we were only half right," Dr. Lee says. "This current study tells the rest of the story."
In the new study, the researchers used a combination of approaches to understand what the Met66 prodomain, generated by the BDNF SNP, was doing. Dr. Bracken led the structural biology work that defined the alterations in the protein that were conferred by the BDNF SNP. The team also included Drs. Katrin Deinhardt and Moses Chao, BDNF biologists and investigators from the Skirball Institute at New York University School of Medicine, who used techniques to evaluate neuronal pruning.
The team knew that BDNF is manufactured inside neurons. One part of the protein, the prodomain, was known to help guide BDNF to the surface of neurons. BDNF released from cells stimulates the growth and activity of neighboring neurons. However, little was known about the prodomain itself; it was considered a useless or inactive protein.
The researchers used a variety of methods to study what actually happened to the prodomain with both the altered BDNF (Met66 prodomain), and in wild-type BDNF (Val66 prodomain).
Read more at:http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130920/Small-alteration-in-a-brain-gene-contributes-to-risk-for-anxiety-depression-and-memory-loss.aspx