Childhood Abuse and Depression - Anxiety Lives On

It has been established that nature and nurture should not be taken as enemies or total opposites, but as two intertwined realities that function together to make up the human experience. Nature was designed for nurture.

Many recent and notable studies have documented the effects that early childhood experience can have on both the physical and chemical makeup of the brain. In particular, childhood abuse and/or neglect can permanently alter an individual's physiology. These physiological changes may lead to a greater likelihood of the person suffering from depression or anxiety later in life.

Groundbreaking results from a major study of depressed women in the US have shown that women who were abused as children have abnormally elevated hormonal responses to stress compared to women with no history of abuse. It suggests that childhood abuse is associated with persistent hyperactivity of the hormonal system associated with the stress response and this may cause greater vulnerability to psychiatric disorders in adulthood.

The study, headed by Dr. Charles Nemeroff at Emory University, looked at women diagnosed with clinical depression who had been abused as children; depressed women with no past abuse; and healthy women. Each person was given a moderately stressful experience and asked to perform simple mathematic problems aloud for a panel of stalwart non expressive judges.

Cortisol and ACTH (two hormones that play a critical role in a person's response to stress) were measured in each subject while she completed the task. It was found that the levels of these hormones were especially pronounced in women who were abused as children and who also had current depression. In fact, their ACTH response indicators were more than six times those of the healthy women.

In addition to high levels of stress hormones, other studies by the same group found that women who had been abused as children had abnormal development of the brain's hippocampus, which suggests another physical result of early abuse that could lead to permanent brain abnormalities in later life.

Other brain structures can also be affected by early abuse or neglect. While the basic unit of the brain is in place at birth, neuronal pathways for the body's reaction to different experiences are still developing.

There is a critical period of time in a child's first three years of life during which most of these pathways are formed. If a child receives primarily negative stimulation early in life, pathways for forming lasting relationships and responding to positive experiences can be stunted or destroyed. While this may be a reaction to help the child survive, it can cause permanent difficulties for the individual.

Other research shows that the brains of severely neglected children tend to be smaller than average with underdeveloped areas in the cortex. The long term implications of this are still being examined, but it shows one more way in which nurture or lack of it can affect a person's biological make-up.

The knowledge that nature and nurture are two crucial aspects to a person's health will undoubtedly prove to be a very useful tool in the research and treatment of psychiatric illness and may lead to even more effective treatments in the future.

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Thank you
Dr Leo Kady

Anxiety, Depression and Defense Mechanisms

Sigmund Freud, the Father of Psychoanalysis, came up with his own theory of explaining the occurrence of anxiety and depression as part of human experience. His explanation of this phenomena traces its origin from the three divisions of the psyche. According to Freud, the human psyche is divided into the id, ego, and superego. These three divisions are only acquired eventually as a person also grows. To have a better understanding of the psyche and its three divisions, one should start with the world and its components.



The world is made up of numerous and different components, and one of those components is the human organism. A human organism has a special ability to survive and reproduce, his guiding force being his needs such as hunger, thirst, fear of pain and sex. It should be noted that these needs are part of a person's unconscious mind. A person's psyche is sensitive to these needs and transforms them into instincts, drives or wishes. This division of the psyche functions with a process called the “pleasure principle” and it is described as the id's responsibility to take care of the needs immediately. This behavior is mostly observed during infancy just like when a baby cries when it is hungry or thirsty. However, when a person's need is not satisfied by the id his or her need just becomes stronger.



This need then enters the conscious mind which is associated to another division of the psyche. This part of the psyche is called the ego and it relates a person's consciousness or reality. This part of the psyche operates based on the “reality principle.” The reality principle is about the belief that the ego will respond to satisfy the need as soon as it finds the appropriate object to satisfy it. However, as the ego continuously responds to an organism's needs, it sometimes experiences obstacles against attaining its goals as well as things that assist it to attain the goals. The ego keeps track of these two types of factors, particularly the rewards and punishments that are given by two of the most influential persons in an organism's life, his or her parents. The records that the ego keep about obstacles to avoid and the strategies it must take are all passed onto the superego, the third division of a person's psyche. It is only when someone is around five or seven years old that this part of the psyche becomes complete.



The superego is divided into two subparts, the conscience and the ego ideal. The conscience is the internalization of the punishments and the warnings while the ego ideal is based on the rewards and positive models that a person had encountered. The superego, together with its subparts, communicate their own requirements to the ego through feelings such as shame, guilt, and pride. Because of the existence of the superego, a person also acquires a new set of needs as well as wishes. However, these new sets of needs are based on social rather than biological origins. These new wishes coming from the superego are sometimes in conflict with the wishes from the id, often leaving the ego overwhelmed or threatened.



This overwhelmed and threatened feeling of the ego is where anxiety comes from. According to Freud, there are three kinds of anxiety. The first kind is called realistic anxiety and it takes the form of human fears which are consequences of threats from the physical world. The second one is known as moral anxiety and it is a result of the threat that the ego perceives from the social world. It usually takes the form of feelings such as guilt, shame, and fear of punishment. Finally, the third kind of anxiety is called neurotic anxiety and it is a result of the fear of being overwhelmed by the impulses from the id.



In order for the ego to deal with these threats without feeling overwhelmed, it sometimes unconsciously blocks the impulses or distorts them into more acceptable forms. This process of blocking and distorting is what Freud called a “defense mechanism.”



Defense mechanisms come in various forms. One mechanism in particular is called turning against self. This happens when a person feels negative impulses such as hatred, aggression, and anger towards others but displaces these impulses to one's self. This explains human emotions of inferiority, guilt, and depression. Depression, Freud further explains, actually results from anger that a person refuses to acknowledge.



As more and more people, nowadays, experience having problems with regards to their anxieties and depression, a better understanding of these concepts from a Freudian perspective can actually help in resolving it. According to Freud, resolution can only be achieved when a person is made aware of those experiences or ideas in the unconscious and therapy be directed to the root of the problems which are most likely rooted in the unconscious.

Anxiety Depression Information

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



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



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



Anxiety Depression: Steps to take to be Worry Free:

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



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

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

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

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

Make friends with optimistic people, practice prayer and meditation.

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

No one is saying things will be automatically changed overnight.

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



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Anxiety - rise from the grave

In some cases of anxiety and depression that a patient clings to hope taking antidepressant drugs in the hope that is the answer to their prayers in the alleviation of their symptoms. It has been shown that certain medications work for some and not for others.

Antidepressants have a huge effect on commodity chemicals in the brain as well change mood. They are known as drug to help those who suffer from anxiety for their trouble, but what you have to remember are antidepressants aren't a cure are there to help control the condition to address the nuisance, i.e. the symptoms.

The healing process can take a few weeks of the drug go to work and take effect where you will see the changes. It is important to follow through with any course of doses of the medicine your doctor prescribes other wise will hinder the effects. Depression anxiety can cause major changes in the lives of people who have remedy, but to turn to medication. Not all the prescriptions of this kind agree with people therefore unwanted side effects. Before proceeding with any drug or treatment that you feel it is disagreement with his body, then see your doctor.

Pill popping is an easy way to remove back - headache pain or any disease causes misery, but is the answer to a cure, is not a temporary solution for the pain.

Natural medicines and treatments in the form of herbal remedies are adopted by many sick people in the 21st century to help combat the stress and the pressure caused by anxiety - depression and panic attacks. Visit their store of herbs and speak with the herbalist who can advise you on many natural potions of natures. Depression can be a very worrying meddler mind where the lack of control and concentration is lost, due to which it interferes with their wellbeing leaving you feeling low and in some cases at a time all under when in desperation, a patient may end up harming themselves proven therapeutic method practiced worldwide sobre for many people with health problems is Yogasurprisingly not many people are aware of the benefits that yoga has to offer. He is known with out doubt to relieve the mind and has the capacity of certain movements to relieve physical pain (depending on condition) If you feel that there are no answers behind by what their eager to erupt times and it is time that a paracetomal and then think again, are doing one more than good arm.

Dealing with anxious moments can be disturbing to many people but then you have to smile and bear it. Anxious moments should not be omitted if prolong or outstay his welcome like this can be recognized as the beginning of anxiety or depression.

An early tomb has been the answer to many a suffering that found only face anxiety caused more pain and anguish that actually occupy.
Are you suffering from the kind of anxiety that leaves the life of feeling is not worth living or wishing you was dead if so I would ask that they rise from the grave in your thoughts and seek help. You're not alone and with the help and medical attention can enjoy the experience of feeling in the world, instead of six feet under.

Anxiety

Anxiety can be defined as the emotions that are generally negative in nature. It will often consist of fear and concern, and some agencies may even experience physical signs such as chest pain and nausea. Anxiety is a complex emotion and consists of a number of different elements. Some of these elements are somatic or cognitive, and the body will be prepared to face an external threat. Accelerates the heart rate and blood pressure is higher. The various muscles of the body will also receive high levels of blood. At the same time, they slow down the functions of the digestive system.

People who have anxiety usually has a sense of fear. A number of voluntary and involuntary processes carried out in the body, and the goal of these processes is that the body away from the source that is causing to have anxiety. Anxiety is an important emotion and is designed to increase the survival rate of the agencies. In humans it seems that anxiety comes from the hippocampus and the amygdala, two regions of the brain. When a person detects odors or flavors, there will be a large amount of blood flow that will be present in the amygdala. The evidence also shows that average levels of anxiety will be present in this situation as well.

Based on these studies, it seems that the anxiety is designed to keep human beings and other organisms eat food or objects that may be harmful to their well-being. While anxiety is normal, a person who has excessive amounts of it can have what is called an anxiety disorder. In extreme cases, people with anxiety disorders may have strong cases where are terrified. Anxiety disorders are divided into phobias, panic disorders, generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorders. Someone who suffers from a phobia to have an abnormal amount of fear of a specific object or situation. People with phobias tend to have a wide imagination and realize that your fear is often irrational.

When a person suffers from a panic disorder, they will have extreme panic attacks and it can have dizziness, or breathing problems. These attacks usually will reach its height in about 10 minutes. Generalized anxiety disorders are common and make one much greater share of the population. It is common in men and women and is characterized by long periods of anxiety which are not connected with any situation or specific object. With obsessive-compulsive disorder, the individual having an obsession or compulsion when it comes to specific types of behaviour. People who suffer from this disorder will see the need to do something obsessively in order to reduce their anxiety.

Many people with this disorder should be extremely clean and have miedas of germs. To reduce their anxiety, they wash their hands many times in a single day. There are two main methods that are used to help those who suffer from anxiety, and this is medicaitons therapy or prescription medications.

5 Ways to quickly ease stress, depression & anxiety

Copyright 2006 Christopher Green No ceremony with this article, we are going to go directly to five quick ways to help you find relief from stress, depression and anxiety.

1 Take regular breaks from the line of fire. Hard work without regular breaks is a great way to build stress and tension. Make sure you have at least one break of 15 minutes in the morning and another in the afternoon, as well as at least 20 minutes to eat. If possible, eat food out of your workstation. Also, if you have much to deal with in your life, take a day or a weekend elsewhere, more if you can - get some respite help really. Even a day away from the line of fire allows you gain some distance from the problems and help you to collect your thoughts.

2 Regular exercises can help relieve stress, depression and anxiety. Exercise releases endorphins in the system and give a natural impulse. Will also provide you with a jump of brooding and housing problems and problems, but only if 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 as squash, tennis, badminton and the circuit sports are all excellent examples. It is important that it does not serve the exercise because although it will benefit physically, they are still stressing you mentally and stress, depression and anxiety will deepen.

3 Stop yourself beat. Self-deprecation is a huge part of stress, depression and anxiety. Everytime he beat on himself, will erode confidence and self-esteem. Not say never you're useless, useless, stupid, desperate, boring, ugly and a loser. Never convince you that other people hate them, that others find it hard to be around you and that you are better to be alone. You may never consider acceptable to say these things to other people and should be regarded as equally unacceptable say himself. These words and phrases are powerful and it hurt him. Accept that you are not perfect and do mistakes: as everyone does - and cut yourself some slack. From this day, make a pact with me never surrender auto-censura anymore. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

4. Isolation is another problem experienced by stress, depression and suffering from anxiety. OK, there will be times you want only to his own company. During these times, you can wait over and over again about the problems and events and you beat up for hours. Not good. Instead, use the isolation more positively. Occupy your mind dealing with a puzzle, a problem of logic, a crossword puzzle, read a book or make a hobby like painting, playing a musical instrument or anything else that it has an interest in. In this way, isolation helps you to grow rather than cause more pain.

5 Television, radio and newspapers can all provide a daily hit of negativity and low helps your state of mind. In general, focus on the negative side of life: crime, corruption, war, natural disaster and scandal and you can give a distorted picture of reality. Not to mention the amount of image manipulation that submitted you. Of a respite from this source of drip refusal and avoid completely for a week. You can find, as I have, that they have place in his life after that. Trust me, do not miss them.

That is five quick tips to help you combat stress, depression and anxiety. Please give them a try, will all help to increase their levels of mood very quickly.

Always tired, fatigued, full of anxiety? Perhaps you need an evidence of depression.

The depression has become one of the older disorders diagnosed in this country in recent years. Things like the economy falls, causing a decrease in personal finance, as well as daily tensions of life and concerns have caused many Americans to become depressed.

It may have seen television ads recently announced offering evidence of depression. Depression not only saddened the mental state of an individual, but it also causes symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety and loss of motivation, even in the simplest of daily activities. Depressed people are not temporarily temperamental or sad. The condition is, unfortunately, in the long term and affect negatively the way a person feels, thinks and behaves.

Depression is a real medical condition that can be treated, but the help should be sought. That in itself same can sometimes be a difficult task for someone who experiences this ailment. A depression test is important because depression is a disease that requires care and medical treatment. If not treated, can last for months and in some cases, even years.

If they have been feeling out of class for an extended period of time, it might take a depression test. There are several ways to do so. If you don't feel to a visit to the doctor, go online. Visit a Web site that can offer a simple questionnaire to decide or not could be clinically depressed. There is a wonderful site called lexapro.com which offers proof of very good depression which is the form of a simple questionnaire. You'll also find there answers to any questions you may have on how they're feeling. Another good web resource is depression.com. Please note that if the results of the test of depression will be believe that actually suffer from depression, must make an appointment to see a doctor and receive treatment.

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