Antidepressants: Cure or Control?

by Chris Green

(c) Chris Green – All Rights reserved

http://www.conqueringstress.com

=====================================

They’re the plagues of the modern world. Stress, depression
and anxiety are on the increase, year in, year out and they
show no signs of ending their relentless onslaught. In the
United States alone, over 40 million people are affected by
these illnesses annually, and for the majority of sufferers,
the only means of stopping the pain is by taking powerful
antidepressant drugs.

What’s curious is that most of them will be on these drugs
for life. Equally curious is that over seventy percent of
people who stop taking them, for any length of time, will
relapse into another painful episode of their illness.
Something’s rotten in Denmark. Because if these drugs are as
effective as their manufacturers claim, then sufferers
should be cured of their illness. Clearly, this isn’t
happening.

Why? I mean, if these drugs are so good, why don’t they cure
stress, anxiety and depressive illness?

The commonly held belief, both by the medical profession and
people who suffer from illnesses such as stress, anxiety and
depression, is that anti-depressant drugs are the most
effective treatment.

This is in fact, not quite true.

Antidepressant drugs DO help a sufferer. But they can only
help them TEMPORARILY. They cannot offer a permanent cure
for these illnesses. This is because anti-depressants treat
ONE of the SYMPTOMS of stressful illnesses – reduced levels
of “happy chemicals” called neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters are the chemicals inside our brains that
help to regulate our moods. So all anti-depressants do is to
give the sufferer a “boost” by raising levels of
neurotransmitters. The real issue here is that once the
sufferer ceases the medication, there is a seventy percent
chance of relapse.

The reason for relapse is because these drugs simply haven’t
addressed the root cause of these illnesses. By boosting
levels of our “happy chemicals” all the drugs are doing is
masking the problem. Now, in the short term, giving our
mental well-being a boost by increasing the levels of “happy
chemicals” is very helpful in helping us START the process
of recovery.

The last sentence is very important. It explains how these
drugs should be used. Because when we feel stressed out,
burned out, terrified of the future or that life has no
point (all common feelings associated with stressful and
depressive illnesses), we find it almost impossible to
function. Finding our own way “out of the tunnel” is mission
impossible.

And that’s where antidepressants can help. In giving us a
boost, we can feel more able to cope. We can START to take
the first steps towards ending our suffering.

But they will not provide a permanent cure. They only way to
cure these painful illnesses is to address the root cause as
to why these illnesses arise. The root cause is down to
harmful mental habits and processes we have learned and put
to use for most of our lives – since childhood in the
majority of instances.

And there lies the crucial difference. Antidepressants can
help us in the short-term by CONTROLLING the illness.
Learning the mental habits and processes that crush these
illnesses so they cannot even begin to arise help us in the
long-term by CURING these illnesses.

Something else I think you’ll find illuminating about these
drugs:

No single drug has proven to be more effective than any
other and the latest research conducted at Yale university
in the United States has revealed that drugs are ineffective
for seventy percent of sufferers. This is because chemical
imbalances in the brain are a symptom and not a cause.
You now know why this is so.

What’s also interesting to note is that sales of these drugs
in the US alone are worth $12 BILLION annually. Pretty good
for something that cannot provide a cure don’t you think? Of
course, one of the issues here is having a sufferer paying
thousands of hard-earned dollars for a drug which cannot
cure them month in, month out, year in, year out.

I don’t think that’s right. Because I firmly believe that
people who are suffering from stress, anxiety, panic,
depression and similar illnesses, want to get rid of it from
their lives forever. Cure means cured, permanently.

I overcame a terrible 5 year period of anxiety-induced
depression without taking any antidepressants. By learning
to address the harmful mental habits and processes which
took me to the lowest point anyone can go, I turned my life
around and found happiness again.

What worked for me will work for you and it will provide the
one thing you deserve and what antidepressant drugs can
never provide: A permanent cure to your suffering.

IMPORTANT: PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
BEFORE YOU STOP TAKING ANY ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATION.

Former anxiety sufferer Chris Green is the author of
“Conquering Stress”, the internationally acclaimed program
which will help you to permanently conquer stress,
depression and anxiety without taking powerful drugs. For
more information please click here =>
http://www.conqueringstress.com.
==============================================
Looking to beat stress, anxiety or depression QUICKLY?
“Conquering Stress” reveals the powerful, effective
secrets so you can beat these illnesses once and for all
DRUG FREE! Click Here==>http://www.conqueringstress.com.
==============================================

Stress Management 4: Audiotherapy; Mindfulness

What is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is a method used for treating emotional and mental disorders, where patients talk about issues and their condition with a psychotherapist. There are group, individual, family, or couples psychotherapy sessions where a psychotherapist works with patients to help them understand, learn, and cope with emotional and mental problems. Group therapy is normally two or more patients that are in therapy together. Patients learn that they are not alone in the way they feel, participate in discussions, and share similar experiences. Individual therapy involves only the therapist and patient. Family therapy includes the patient with a mental illness and his or her entire family because they are part of the patient’s support system. Psychotherapy helps family members understand coping methods for dealing with the illness their loved one is experiencing or going through and ways to help them. Couples or marital therapy is a way for partners and spouses to understand the mental disorder their loved one has, how to cope, and what they can do to help.

Therapists teach patients about the causes of their condition in terms they understand; give them the coping tools necessary to solve problems; teach patients to identify their thought or behavior problems and ways to change them so they do not adversely affect their life; and learn the importance of setting realistic, attainable goals. During therapy, the patient talks to a trained, licensed mental health professional for assistance in identifying the causes of their problem and ways to treat the illness. Some patients only require a couple of psychotherapy sessions while other patients continue to see their psychotherapists for many years. Some people require medication along with psychotherapy treatments to help them deal with their problems. Psychotherapy helps patients to understand how their ideas, emotions, and behaviors can affect their illness and teaches them problem-solving skills and coping techniques so they have a sense of pleasure and control in their life. [Read more...]

5 Things You Can Do For Depression, Anxiety and Stress Relief

No ceremony with this article, let’s go straight into five quick things you can do for depression, anxiety and stress relief.

1. Take regular breaks from the firing line. Working hard without regular breaks is a great way to build up stress and tension. Make sure you have at least one 15-minute break in the morning and one in the afternoon as well as at least 20 minutes for lunch. If possible, eat lunch away from your workstation. Equally, if you have a lot to deal with in your life right now, taking a day, or a weekend elsewhere – longer if you can – to get some breathing space will really help. Even just a day away from the firing line will enable you to get some distance from the problems and help you to gather your thoughts.

2. Regular exercise can help relieve stress, depression and anxiety. Exercise releases endorphins into your system and will give you a natural boost. It will also provide you with a break from brooding and dwelling upon problems and troubles – but only if you perform the right kind of exercises. Avoid: Exercises that allow you to brood (weight lifting, jogging, treadmills) and perform exercises that require your full concentration. Competitive sports such as squash, tennis, badminton and circuit training are all excellent examples. It is important that you do not brood when you exercise because although you will be benefiting physically, you are still stressing yourself mentally and the stress, depression and anxiety will worsen. [Read more...]

Stress Management 3: Using Your Senses

Social Phobia Anxiety Disorder

Social phobia is another name for social anxiety disorder. Social phobia affects over 15 million Americans each year, making it the third largest psychological problem in the United States. As many people as there are affected by social phobia, it is still very misunderstood by mental health care professionals such as doctors, therapists and psychologists. Patients suffering from social phobia are misdiagnosed approximately 90% of the time. Often they are mistakenly labeled as manic-depressive, panic disordered, schizophrenic or clinically depressed.

Social phobia is not a disorder that is discussed a lot on television on in the media; so many sufferers don’t realize just how common their problem is in the world. Rather, they feel there is something wrong with just them so they don’t seek treatment. Without knowledge of social phobia and proper treatment, the condition can get worse over time. Another thing that makes social phobia so difficult is that it does not come and go as a symptom of some diseases, but it is with you every day of your life. [Read more...]

Stress, Anxiety and Depression – What Helps?

One of the most frequently asked questions I get asked is “When it comes to stress, anxiety and depression, what helps?”

For many sufferers, a feeling of helplessness underpins stress, anxiety and depression and I touched upon this briefly in a recent article about how beliefs can exacerbate the suffering.

Helplessness is a major part of stress, anxiety and depression so let’s look at how you can reduce the impact this flawed belief has to help relieve the suffering.

Believing you are helpless in life is a truly terrible feeling and I write from personal experience here. For five years, a number of traumatic events led me to the point where I believed life held nothing but pain and anguish. I truly believed life would unfold in a way that would destroy me and there wasn’t a single thing I could do about it. [Read more...]

Stress Management 2: About Stress

Depression Anxiety Symptoms

While a lot of people who are diagnosed as having an anxiety disorder may experience depression at one time or another, there are people who suffer from depression anxiety symptoms more often than others who suffer from similar problems. Depression anxiety symptoms often include the feeling of inadequacy and feelings of desperation. Trying to understand why a person is feeling this way can eventually lead to helping find a cure for it.

Depression anxiety symptoms can often lead to the deterioration of a person’s physical health as well as a marked decrease in his or her emotional and psychological wellbeing. Depression can very well cause a person to come to rather extreme conclusions about what can solve these problems. The danger of suicide in people who exhibit depression anxiety symptoms is pretty high; therefore it is extremely important that people who are showing these signs get some much needed help.

How do you determine if a person is showing depression anxiety symptoms? One of the most common signs of a person who is suffering from depression anxiety symptoms is when the person is constantly in a state of sadness or is always pessimistic. Other depression anxiety symptoms may include the feeling of worthlessness or hopelessness. Sleeping problems can also be a sign of this depression anxiety dilemma. The most obvious sign is when a person starts contemplating suicide or when thoughts about death or dying are all that seems to be on the person’s mind. [Read more...]

5 Ways To Relieve Stress This Weekend

- by Chris Green

In today’s busy world, stress is a real problem for many people throughout the week. There is so much to do both at work and at home and it’s so important for your health to keep stress at bay. Here’s how to make the most of your weekend so you can relax and enjoy living and relieve stress as you do.

Listening to music is another great stress-buster and certainly beats watching the garbage dished up on TV these days. Music can inspire, soothe, calm, and excite you and it is one of the greatest pleasures life has to offer in my humble opinion. So why not take in some live music? Whether your tastes lie in classical, opera, jazz, blues or R&B, you’ll be able to find somewhere that caters to your taste. Or, you could just schedule some time to sit down and listen to your favorite CD’s in the comfort of your home – maybe have a relaxing soak in the tub as you do? It’s such a great way to relieve stress, so make it a part of your stress-busting weekend.

How about involving all of the family in your weekend of stress relief? A picnic is a great day out for all of the family. Zoos, theme parks, the beach, the lakes are places all of the family will enjoy but you don’t have to venture afar to enjoy a picnic. You could enjoy a picnic in the comfort of your garden, maybe even fire up the barbecue while you’re at it? Your picnic, your call, just make sure all the family are involved in preparing the food so they feel part of it. [Read more...]