A Career In Sports Medicine
Posted on August 9, 2008, under Health.
Do you want a rewarding career that also lets you work with a lot of people? Do you enjoy sports and physical activity? Do you want to be a doctor? If you answered yes to any of these then you may be interested in a career in sports medicine. A career in sports medicine has many advantages for you. Not only is it an excellent career, but people educated in sports medicine are always needed. You know you will always have a job in the field of sports medicine.
Sports medicine has two fields of expertise. Sports medicine first focuses on injury treatment and injury prevention for athletes. The second focus of sports medicine is to provide an athlete or athletes with performance enhancement. This can be for any type of athlete. In sports medicine you can treat: runners, bicyclists, football players, soccer players, hockey players, baseball players, and many other types of athletes. Sports medicine is open to many fields. The goal of a person who works in sports medicine is to make sure the athletes he or she treats achieve top performance and optimal health at all times.
There are many careers in sports medicine. One is called a sports medicine physician. A sports medicine physician goes through medical school first and then gets educated in sports medicine. This is when they learn to diagnose and treat sport related injuries that athletes have incurred. A second career in sports medicine is called a sports medicine physical therapist. A sports medicine physical therapist works with athletes to rehabilitate them from sports related injuries, muscle problems, joint problems, etc. For A career as a sports medicine physical therapist you will need to get certified as a physical therapist after your initial medical school training.
Many college campuses offer courses in sports medicine. Some even have job placement for people that wish to start a career in the field of sports medicine. One great school to look into is The American College of Sports Medicine. They offer certification in this field and are world renowned. For more information about sports medicine you can check out a book called The American Journal of Sports Medicine. It has details on sports medicine education and articles about sports medicine.
This career is an excellent choice for many of you out there. It’s great to know when you are the one that helps an athlete perform his or her best. If you are really good at it you may even get to treat the athletes that are in the Olympics! Perhaps you will get to treat some of the world famous basketball stars or football players! Then you too can world famous!
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The Skinny On Muscle Imbalances Restoring Order As A Means Of Eliminating Back Pain
There are many causes of back pain. Injury, illness, herniated disks and poor posture are just a few.
Muscle imbalances are one of the lesser side effects of improper use, posture, strain and injury, and are commonly the cause of the aches and pains associated with back pain. Unfortunately, most doctors don’t diagnose muscle imbalances until it is too late.
Muscle Imbalances Defined
So what exactly is a muscle imbalance? A muscle imbalance is exactly as it sounds, an ‘imbalance’ or inequality that exists within the muscles. It occurs when two or more muscles in the body that oppose each other are disproportionate.
An example of a common muscle imbalance occurs in the muscles of the quadriceps and hamstrings. Most people work hard to strengthen the front part of their leg but often skimp when it comes to exercising the hamstring. A muscle imbalance in this area of the leg can result in a ‘popping’ sound in the knee. It can also result in back pain.
The single most common muscle imbalance leading to back pain is disproportionate abdomen to back ratio. Think of it this way… it’s like a teeter totter that isn’t balanced because one end is shorter than the other. It will still work but not optimally.
Not exercising the abdomen can lead to severe back pain because the abdomen supports the back.
Biology of Muscles
It will help your understanding a bit if you have an idea of how muscles work. Muscles are fibrous tissues that connect to bones in the body, supporting the function of movement. To facilitate movement muscles contract and then relax. So a muscle gets shorter and then longer in response to movement. A muscle imbalance may result in too much or too little contracting or relaxing. Or, some muscles may get too strong while others aren’t strong enough and can reduce a persons’ stability.
Factors Contributing to Muscle Imbalances
One of the primary causes of muscle imbalances is poor posture. If you sit for too long in a bad position or continually stand with bad posture, your muscles adapt to your posture but in a bad way resulting in imbalances.
Muscle imbalances can also result when you overuse a muscle. If you are right handed for example and use a pull lever on the job, and only pull with the right hand, the right hand/arm will be stronger than the left which presents an imbalance.
The Benefits of Exercise
The good news is that exercise can help reduce and even eliminate muscle imbalances. (If not careful however, improper training can also lead to muscle imbalances).
You can exercise weaker muscles to catch them up to stronger ones and work to correct imbalances and maintain overall stability. You can assess whether or not opposing muscles are out of balance by testing your lifting strength. Try lifting your maximum on one side and then the other.
For example, if you can lift a 10 pound weight during a bicep curl on the left side, but a 30 pound weight on the right, you have a muscle imbalance. You should enlist the assistance of a trainer when testing muscle imbalances. By working with a trainer, you can develop a fitness program that not only addresses muscle imbalances but improves overall tone and strength. Usually a combination of strength training and physical therapy or chiropractic therapy can be used to correct muscle imbalances.
Prevention
Prevention is critical when it comes to muscle imbalances and back pain. One of the best things you can to correct and prevent future injury is seek out the help of a professional trainer. A trainer can perform a physical evaluation and test the relative muscle strength you have on each side of the body. You can then work together to develop a strength training program that provides overall strength and eliminates potential problem areas.
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How To Choose A Personal Trainer
In the fitness industry there is a joke that goes something like this: “The reason I decided not to become a personal trainer is that I had no table waiting experience and I didn’t want to become an actor.”
This may sound humorous but, unfortunately, there is a core of truth there. Because there are no strict guidelines about who can call themselves a trainer, almost anyone who has a job or career aspiration that demands a high degree of physical fitness can hang out a shingle or get a job coaching at your local gym. In fact, it is very common for an actor, sports model, or athlete to try to pick up extra money by working as a fitness instructor, especially because there is good money to be made by doing so.
While these individuals may know what works for them as far as exercise and diet goes, that does not automatically qualify them to train others or to give them nutritional counseling.
What Are Your Goals?
The first thing you need to be clear about when considering a trainer is what goals you have in mind. Do you want someone who can design an exercise and nutritional protocol that will help you to shed 20 or more pounds? Do you want to develop greater strength and muscularity, perhaps with the guided use of protein drinks and sports supplements? Do you want to get back into shape after a pregnancy or a long period spent without exercise? Or maybe you are trying to slim down for a class reunion, wedding, or other family event.
Once you are clear on what you would like to accomplish, it will be easier to find the person who has the experience and qualifications to help you get there.
Where Do I Find Trainers to Interview?
There are several ways to locate trainers. Word of mouth through friends, colleagues, or your family doctor are good places to start. You might also check your Yellow Pages under “Personal Trainers,” “Health Clubs,” and “Exercise and Physical Fitness.”
Another great resource is the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), one of the largest nationally recognized fitness organizations (www.nsca-lift.org).
Questions You Should Ask a Prospective Trainer
Once you have found a trainer who look promising, you need to learn as much about their qualifications as possible. The first and most important question you should ask is “What qualifies you to be a personal trainer?” NSCA and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS) are two nationally recognized certifications. A background in exercise physiology, sports medicine, physical education, or anatomy and physiology are also helpful because that tells you that this individual has made a thorough study of the body and how it works.
It would also be a plus if your trainer were involved in some sort of elite exercise him- or herself, such as body building.
If you need nutritional guidance from a trainer, make sure that he or she has some kind of solid education and background in the subject.
Ask your prospective trainer what their goals are. If they tell you they want to star in films or have their own sitcom on NBC, they are probably not the right person for you.
You will also want to know the length of time a person has been working as a trainer and how many clients they have coached.
The most important thing you can request are client referrals. Speaking with people who have received fitness instruction from the trainer you are considering will give you an idea whether he or she is the right person for you.
Some questions you might consider asking clients are:
How long have you worked with this trainer?
Has he or she helped you to achieve your goals?
Do you feel like this trainer makes efficient use of the time you have together?
Does this trainer clearly explain each exercise to you and help you to perform it with good posture and body positioning?
Have you ever been injured when working out with this trainer?
Do you find him or her professional and supportive of your goals?
Starting Out: What to Expect
Once you have chosen a trainer, there are certain questions they should ask you and evaluations they should perform.
First, they should be very clear about what your goals are and make some suggestions as to how they can help you to achieve them.
Before even beginning an exercise program they should do a complete physical evaluation of your strength, range of motion, flexibility, current exercise routine (if you’ve been working out on your own), any injuries you might have sustained over the years, and any physical limitations you might have (such as a weak lower back or arthritis in your knee or shoulder joints).
Once they have designed a unique program to fit your body type, level of ability, and goals, they should be able to give you clear instructions and a clear idea of how to correctly position your body on any exercise ball, machine, or with any free weights.
You will only get the maximum benefit from each exercise and avoid injury if your trainer is knowledgeable about physiology. They should be able to coach you on correct posture, which includes good head, neck, shoulder, arm, lower back, hip, and leg positions for each machine or exercise.
Good posture and positioning of the body will enable you to perform exercises correctly and without pain. If something is hurting you or you feel undue strain, stop immediately and communicate this to your fitness instructor. Improving your level of fitness takes effort, endurance, and consistency, but not to the point of strain or injury.
A good workout program should include enough sets and repetitions of each movement to challenge you and to fully work each body part. If you are doing two sessions per week with a trainer, they should spend one on upper body and abdominals and the second session on lower body and abdominals. In other words, they should thoroughly work each section of the body and allow it enough time to recover in between workouts.
Warning Signs
There are certain behaviors you should be aware of that might indicate that a trainer is not being as professional as they should be with a client.
A trainer should be a good listener, always attentive to your goals. If your trainer is constantly using a lot of “I” and “me” statements, they are not making good use of your time together. They should be focused on your needs, your progress, and what you require.
A good trainer should always respect emotional boundaries. Beware of trainers who want to tell you their life story, ask you for advice in their career, or pour out their heartaches and stories about their love life. You are their client, not their therapist. It is equally time-wasting to work with a trainer who encourages you to take about your own problems. In such a situation is it easy to feel sucked dry emotionally and talk your way through your hour, instead of getting the full workout you are there to do.
We are all human and have our ups and downs-and we mention them from time to time-but this should first and foremost always be a professional relationship from which you need to get a certain amount of value for your physique.
Lastly, a good trainer should always keep upgrading your workout. If weeks go by and someone is still having you do the same amount of sets and reps with the same amount of weight, they are not helping you to make progress. The body will eventually acclimate itself to any exercise routine and it needs to be continually challenged.
If you follow these guidelines, you should be able to find a trainer who will help you to meet your goals and improve your physique, energy levels, and general health. Good luck!
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Real Men Real Depression Mental Health Matters
Depression is a serious but treatable medical condition - a brain disease - that can strike anyone, including men. In America alone, over 6 million men have depression each year.
Whether you’re a company executive, a construction worker, a writer, a police officer, or a student, whether you are rich or poor, surrounded by loved ones or alone, you are not immune to depression. Some factors, however, such as family history, undue stress, the loss of a loved one or other serious illnesses can make you more vulnerable.
If left untreated, depression can lead to personal, family and financial difficulties, and, in some cases, end in suicide. With appropriate diagnosis and treatment, however, most people recover. The darkness disappears, hope for the future returns, energy and desire come back, and interest in life becomes stronger than ever
Depression can strike anyone regardless of age, ethnic background, socioeconomic status, or gender; however, large scale research studies have found that depression is about twice as common in women as in men. In the United States, researchers estimate that in any given one year period, depressive illnesses affect 12 percent of women (more than 12 million women) and nearly 7 percent of men (more than six million men).3 But important questions remain to be answered about the causes underlying this gender difference. We still do not know if depression is truly less common among men, or if men are just less likely than women to recognize, acknowledge, and seek help for depression.
Types of Depression
Just like other illnesses, such as heart disease, depression comes in different forms. This booklet briefly describes three of the most common types of depressive disorders. However, within these types, there are variations in the number of symptoms, their severity, and persistence.
Major depression (or major depressive disorder) is manifested by a combination of symptoms (see symptoms list below) that interferes with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. A major depressive episode may occur only once; but more commonly, several episodes may occur in a lifetime. Chronic major depression may require a person to continue treatment indefinitely.
A less severe type of depression, dysthymia (or dysthymic disorder), involves long lasting, chronic symptoms that do not seriously disable, but keep one from functioning well or feeling good. Many people with dysthymia also experience major depressive episodes at some time in their lives.
Depression
Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood.
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism.
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness.
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyable, including sex.
Decreased energy, fatigue; feeling “slowed down.”
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Trouble sleeping, early morning awakening, or oversleeping.
Changes in appetite and/or weight.
Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts. Restlessness or irritability.
Persistent physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain that do not respond to routine treatment.
Men and Depression
Researchers estimate that at least six million men in the United States suffer from a depressive disorder every year. Research and clinical evidence reveal that while both women and men can develop the standard symptoms of depression, they often experience depression differently and may have different ways of coping with the symptoms. Men may be more willing to acknowledge fatigue, irritability, loss of interest in work or hobbies, and sleep disturbances rather than feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and excessive guilt. Some researchers question whether the standard definition of depression and the diagnostic tests based upon it adequately capture the condition as it occurs in men.
Men are more likely than women to report alcohol and drug abuse or dependence in their lifetime;14 however, there is debate among researchers as to whether substance use is a “symptom” of underlying depression in men or a co occurring condition that more commonly develops in men. Nevertheless, substance use can mask depression, making it harder to recognize depression as a separate illness that needs treatment.
Instead of acknowledging their feelings, asking for help, or seeking appropriate treatment, men may turn to alcohol or drugs when they are depressed, or become frustrated, discouraged, angry, irritable, and, sometimes, violently abusive. Some men deal with depression by throwing themselves compulsively into their work, attempting to hide their depression from themselves, family, and friends. Other men may respond to depression by engaging in reckless behavior, taking risks, and putting themselves in harm’s way.
More than four times as many men as women die by suicide in the United States, even though women make more suicide attempts during their lives. In addition to the fact that men attempt suicide using methods that are generally more lethal than those used by women, there may be other factors that protect women against suicide death. In light of research indicating that suicide is often associated with depression, the alarming suicide rate among men may reflect the fact that men are less likely to seek treatment for depression. Many men with depression do not obtain adequate diagnosis and treatment that may be life saving.
Depression in Older Men
Men must cope with several kinds of stress as they age. If they have been the primary wage earners for their families and have identified heavily with their jobs, they may feel stress upon retirement-loss of an important role, loss of self esteem-that can lead to depression. Similarly, the loss of friends and family and the onset of other health problems can trigger depression.
Depression is not a normal part of aging. Depression is an illness that can be effectively treated, thereby decreasing unnecessary suffering, improving the chances for recovery from other illnesses, and prolonging productive life. However, health care professionals may miss depressive symptoms in older patients. Older adults may be reluctant to discuss feelings of sadness or grief, or loss of interest in pleasurable activities.
They may complain primarily of physical symptoms. It may be difficult to discern a co occurring depressive disorder in patients who present with other illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, or cancer, which may cause depressive symptoms or may be treated with medications that have side effects that cause depression. If a depressive illness is diagnosed, treatment with appropriate medication and/or brief psychotherapy can help older adults manage both diseases, thus enhancing survival and quality of life.
Identifying and treating depression in older adults is critical. There is a common misperception that suicide rates are highest among the young, but it is older white males who suffer the highest rate. Over 70 percent of older suicide victims visit their primary care physician within the month of their death; many have a depressive illness that goes undetected during these visits. This fact has led to research efforts to determine how to best improve physicians’ abilities to detect and treat depression in older adults.
Approximately 80 percent of older adults with depression improve when they receive treatment with antidepressant medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. In addition, research has shown that a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medication is highly effective for reducing recurrences of depression among older adults. Psychotherapy alone has been shown to prolong periods of good health free from depression, and is particularly useful for older patients who cannot or will not take medication.18 Improved recognition and treatment of depression in later life will make those years more enjoyable and fulfilling for the depressed elderly person, and his family and caregivers.
A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood.
Depression can strike anyone regardless of age, ethnic background, socioeconomic status, or gender; however, large scale research studies have found that depression is about twice as common in women as in men.In the United States, researchers estimate that in any given one year period, depressive illnesses affect 12 percent of women (more than 12 million women) and nearly 7 percent of men (more than six million men) But important questions remain to be answered about the causes underlying this gender difference. We still do not know if depression is truly less common among men, or if men are just less likely than women to recognize, acknowledge, and seek help for depression.
Symptoms of Depression
Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom. Some people experience only a few; some people suffer many. The severity of symptoms varies among individuals and also over time.
Depression
Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood.
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism.
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness.
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyable, including sex.
Decreased energy, fatigue; feeling “slowed down.”
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Trouble sleeping, early morning awakening, or oversleeping.
Changes in appetite and/or weight.
Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts.
Restlessness or irritability.
Persistent physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain that do not respond to routine treatment.
Depression can coexist with other illnesses. In such cases, it is important that the depression and each co occurring illness be appropriately diagnosed and treated.
Research has shown that anxiety disorders-which include post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder-commonly accompany depression. Depression is especially prevalent among people with PTSD, a debilitating condition that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened.
Traumatic events that can trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults such as rape or mugging, natural disasters, accidents, terrorism, and military combat. PTSD symptoms include: re experiencing the traumatic event in the form of flashback episodes, memories, or nightmares; emotional numbness; sleep disturbances; irritability; outbursts of anger; intense guilt; and avoidance of any reminders or thoughts of the ordeal. In one NIMH supported study, more than 40 percent of people with PTSD also had depression when evaluated at one month and four months following the traumatic event.
Substance use disorders (abuse or dependence) also frequently co occur with depressive disorders. Research has revealed that people with alcoholism are almost twice as likely as those without alcoholism to also suffer from major depression. In addition, more than half of people with bipolar disorder type I (with severe mania) have a co occurring substance use disorder.
Men and Depression
Researchers estimate that at least six million men in the United States suffer from a depressive disorder every year. Research and clinical evidence reveal that while both women and men can develop the standard symptoms of depression, they often experience depression differently and may have different ways of coping with the symptoms. Men may be more willing to acknowledge fatigue, irritability, loss of interest in work or hobbies, and sleep disturbances rather than feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and excessive guilt. Some researchers question whether the standard definition of depression and the diagnostic tests based upon it adequately capture the condition as it occurs in men.
Men are more likely than women to report alcohol and drug abuse or dependence in their lifetime; however, there is debate among researchers as to whether substance use is a “symptom” of underlying depression in men or a co occurring condition that more commonly develops in men. Nevertheless, substance use can mask depression, making it harder to recognize depression as a separate illness that needs treatment.
Instead of acknowledging their feelings, asking for help, or seeking appropriate treatment, men may turn to alcohol or drugs when they are depressed, or become frustrated, discouraged, angry, irritable, and, sometimes, violently abusive. Some men deal with depression by throwing themselves compulsively into their work, attempting to hide their depression from themselves, family, and friends. Other men may respond to depression by engaging in reckless behavior, taking risks, and putting themselves in harm’s way.
More than four times as many men as women die by suicide in the United States, even though women make more suicide attempts during their lives. In addition to the fact that men attempt suicide using methods that are generally more lethal than those used by women, there may be other factors that protect women against suicide death. In light of research indicating that suicide is often associated with depression,17 the alarming suicide rate among men may reflect the fact that men are less likely to seek treatment for depression. Many men with depression do not obtain adequate diagnosis and treatment that may be life saving.
More research is needed to understand all aspects of depression in men, including how men respond to stress and feelings associated with depression, how to make men more comfortable acknowledging these feelings and getting the help they need, and how to train physicians to better recognize and treat depression in men. Family members, friends, and employee assistance professionals in the workplace also can play important roles in recognizing depressive symptoms in men and helping them get treatment.
The first step to getting appropriate treatment for depression is a physical examination by a physician. Certain medications as well as some medical conditions such as a viral infection, thyroid disorder, or low testosterone level can cause the same symptoms as depression, and the physician should rule out these possibilities through examination, interview, and lab tests. If no such cause of the depressive symptoms is found, the physician should do a psychological evaluation or refer the patient to a mental health professional.
A good diagnostic evaluation will include a complete history of symptoms: i.e., when they started, how long they have lasted, their severity, and whether the patient had them before and, if so, if the symptoms were treated and what treatment was given. The doctor should ask about alcohol and drug use, and if the patient has thoughts about death or suicide. Further, a history should include questions about whether other family members have had a depressive illness and, if treated, what treatments they may have received and if they were effective. Last, a diagnostic evaluation should include a mental status examination to determine if speech, thought patterns, or memory has been affected, as sometimes happens with depressive disorders.
Treatment choice will depend on the patient’s diagnosis, severity of symptoms, and preference. There are a variety of treatments, including medications and short term psychotherapies (i.e., “talk” therapies), that have proven effective for depressive disorders. In general, severe depressive illnesses, particularly those that are recurrent, will require a combination of treatments for the best outcome.
Alcohol- including wine, beer, and hard liquor-or street drugs may reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants and should be avoided. However, doctors may permit people who have not had a problem with alcohol abuse or dependence to use a modest amount of alcohol while taking one of the newer antidepressants.
Questions about any medication prescribed, or problems that may be related to it, should be discussed with your doctor.
How to Help Yourself if You Are Depressed
Depressive disorders can make one feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. It is important to realize that these negative views are part of the depression and do not accurately reflect the actual circumstances. Negative thinking fades as treatment begins to take effect. In the meantime: Engage in mild exercise. Go to a movie, a ballgame, or participate in religious, social, or other activities. Set realistic goals and assume a reasonable amount of responsibility.
Break large tasks into small ones, set some priorities, and do what you can as you can.
Try to be with other people and to confide in someone; it is usually better than being alone and secretive. Participate in activities that may make you feel better. Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. Feeling better takes time. Often during treatment of depression, sleep and appetite will begin to improve before depressed mood lifts.
Postpone important decisions. Before deciding to make a significant transition-change jobs, get married or divorced-discuss it with others who know you well and have a more objective view of your situation.
Do not expect to ’snap out of’ a depression. But do expect to feel a little better day by day.
Remember, positive thinking will replace the negative thinking as your depression responds to treatment. Let your family and friends help you.
How Family and Friends Can Help
The most important thing anyone can do for a man who may have depression is to help him get to a doctor for a diagnostic evaluation and treatment. First, try to talk to him about depression-help him understand that depression is a common illness among men and is nothing to be ashamed about. Perhaps share this booklet with him. Then encourage him to see a doctor to determine the cause of his symptoms and obtain appropriate treatment.
Occasionally, you may need to make an appointment for the depressed person and accompany him to the doctor. Once he is in treatment, you may continue to help by encouraging him to stay with treatment until symptoms begin to lift (several weeks) or to seek different treatment if no improvement occurs. This may also mean monitoring whether he is taking prescribed medication and/or attending therapy sessions. Encourage him to be honest with the doctor about his use of alcohol and prescription or recreational drugs, and to follow the doctor’s orders about the use of these substances while on antidepressant medication.
The second most important thing is to offer emotional support to the depressed person. This involves understanding, patience, affection, and encouragement. Engage him in conversation and listen carefully. Do not disparage the feelings he may express, but point out realities and offer hope. Do not ignore remarks about suicide. Report them to the depressed person’s doctor. In an emergency, call 911. Invite him for walks, outings, to the movies, and other activities. Be gently insistent if your invitation is refused. Encourage participation in some activities that once gave pleasure, such as hobbies, sports, religious or cultural activities, but do not push him to undertake too much too soon. The depressed person needs diversion and company, but too many demands can increase feelings of failure.
Listed below are the types of people and places that will make a referral to, or provide, diagnostic and treatment services.
Family doctors
Mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, or mental health counselors Religious leaders/counselors
Health maintenance organizations
Community mental health centers
Hospital psychiatry departments and outpatient clinics
University or medical school affiliated programs
State hospital outpatient clinics
Social service agencies
Private clinics and facilities
Employee assistance programs
Local medical and/or psychiatric societies
Conclusion
A man can experience depression in many different ways. He may be grumpy or irritable, or have lost his sense of humor. He might drink too much or abuse drugs. It may be that he physically or verbally abuses his wife and his kids. He might work all the time, or compulsively seek thrills in high risk behavior. Or, he may seem isolated, withdrawn, and no longer interested in the people or activities he used to enjoy.
Perhaps this man sounds like you. If so, it is important to understand that there is a brain disorder called depression that may be underlying these feelings and behaviors. It’s real: scientists have developed sensitive imaging devices that enable us to see depression in the brain. And it’s treatable: more than 80 percent of those suffering from depression respond to existing treatments, and new ones are continually becoming available and helping more people. Talk to a healthcare provider about how you are feeling, and ask for help.
Or perhaps this man sound like someone you care about. Try to talk to him, or to someone who has a chance of getting through to him. Help him to understand that depression is a common illness among men and is nothing to be ashamed about. Encourage him to see a doctor and get an evaluation for depression.
For most men with depression, life doesn’t have to be so dark and hopeless. Life is hard enough as it is; and treating depression can free up vital resources to cope with life’s challenges effectively. When a man is depressed, he’s not the only one who suffers. His depression also darkens the lives of his family, his friends, virtually everyone close to him. Getting him into treatment can send ripples of healing and hope into all of those lives.
Depression is a real illness; it is treatable; and men can have it. It takes courage to ask for help, but help can make all the difference.
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Insomnia Fighters How To Sleep When You Have Money Worries
Excerpt from “How to sleep without pills”
Mrs. D., normally an optimistic girl, was married to an ambitious young man who owned a small ice cream and confectionery shop which he was determined to build into something substantial. Long hours in the store, however, yielded only dribs and drabs of money. There always seemed to be the question of whether they could hold out or whether they would lose the store.
After six years of scrimping, with three children now to take care of, Mrs. D. found that thoughts of money seemed to color her whole life. The slightest financial setback was enough to make her lie awake contemplating their bad luck.
These incidents were trivial, as Mrs. D. would be the first to admit, but each one seemed the last straw. A library book fell in a mud puddle and she had to pay for it; that night she lay awake translating the money she had paid for the book into shoes and food for the children. A glove got lost, a storekeeper overcharged her a nickel, the gas bill arrived; these were enough to send her into sloughs of despondency resulting in sleepless nights.
SOLUTION
Worrying over money has probably kept more people awake than any other single cause. People who have money worry over losing it; people who have no money worry about acquiring it.
The millionaire who loses half his fortune probably suffers as acutely as the father of six children who loses his job. Perhaps he suffers more. During the stock market crash, it was the millionaires who jumped from tall office buildings when they were wiped out. Yet, bankrupt though they were, they were no poorer than the average working man without savings who laughs at the idea of suicide.
The whole idea of wealth is relative. It is an old adage that no matter how badly off you are, there are people who aspire to your position. Millions of people in Europe and Asia would trade places with the poorest American citizen. I told this to Mrs. D., and pointed out that in India, where they gather the starved dead from the streets as a routine task each morning, there would be riots for the privilege of getting the contents of her garbage can. I told her also that a Hungarian woman might envy Mrs. D. her peace of mind at not having to worry about her husband’s being removed some night by the secret police.
Being poor, even in America, is a serious thing, and we should all make strenuous and intelligent efforts to gain security. But worrying will only impair those efforts and sleeplessness will make success far more difficult to achieve.
When I explained these truths to Mrs. D., she was more angry than impressed. “Look, I know there are people worse off than I am,” she said, “but that doesn’t put food on my table or put me to sleep at night. Should I go around all day singing because I don’t have enough money?” she added belligerently.
In a sense, I answered her, that is exactly what she should do. Go around singing! Why not? Going around sorrowing was only driving her toward a nervous breakdown.
But before Mrs. D. could go around singing she had to be taught the habit of positive thinking. To do this I had her make a list of the assets and liabilities of her life. The assets were as follows: Her children were normal and healthy. Her husband was healthy. She was healthy. Her husband loved her. Her husband was well liked. She was well liked. She had many friends. Her children were smart in school. Her husband was still a young man.
Against these assets was the liability of being poor. Being poor was their only liability. If they had money, Mrs. D. said-and it wouldn’t take much-everything would be fine. Being poor worried Mrs. D. and caused her sleepless nights because, as she wrote down: They weren’t getting ahead-that is, saving money. It looked as if they would always be poor. They had no money should an emergency occur. They had no money set aside for the children’s college education. None of them had had new clothes for a long time. She was tired of scrimping and counting every penny. She couldn’t entertain her friends properly. They might lose the business. They might not have enough to pay the bills next month. Most of Mrs. D’s worry over money resulted not from a lack of money to meet their immediate needs, but from fear of not being able to meet their needs in the future.
Many of these fears might never be realized. Yet if Mrs. D. allowed her thinking to make her a fear-ridden neurotic about money and an anchor instead of an inspiration to her husband, all these fears might be realized, for defeatism like Mrs. D’s is contagious.
I instructed Mrs. D. to think of her assets instead of her money worries. While she was baking a cake, she was to stop thinking, “We’ll never have money for the children’s college education,” and instead think, “I am fortunate to have such healthy children,” or, “I am fortunate to have such a fine husband.”
This is conditioned thinking, and until you acquire the unconscious habit of thinking this way, you have to do it consciously. There is no other cure for worry. Worry, like any other habit, can be cured only by having another habit substituted for it: the habit of positive thinking.
In addition to instructing Mrs. D. to acquire deliberately the habit of positive thinking, I got her to learn the ABC Round Robin and the Sleep Exercise. I taught her to take advantage of lapses in the day’s activities to enjoy fifteen or twenty minutes of relaxing sleep.
She turned out to be an apt pupil once she saw that there was no desirable alternative to the course I presented to her. To her amazement she found that when she forced herself to think of the good things of her life, she felt elated. Mrs. D. no longer spends hours worrying over money when she should be sleeping. As a result, she is better equipped to help her husband make the decisions necessary to earn more money.
SUMMARY
To sleep when you have money worries:
Don’t count sheep; count your blessings. Itemize on a sheet of paper all the good things there are in your life. If you are so down in the dumps that you can’t think of any, begin by thinking of a neighbor with whom you wouldn’t trade places. For instance, Mrs. R., who is well-to-do, but whose child is not normal. Or Mr. Z., who has a nagging wife. Or Mrs. Y., whose husband drinks. Then put down as a blessing, “My child is normal and healthy,” or “I have an understanding wife,” or “My husband doesn’t drink.”
Set aside definite periods for discussions of finances. Give yourself all the time you need to consider a given prob- lem adequately, but do not allow yourself to think about money at any other time. When you catch yourself thinking negatively about money, force yourself to think about how well-off you are, by repeating your list of assets. Do this faith fully; it is bound to make you feel better.
Learn the ABC Round Robin. Use it to make yourself relax whenever you have a few spare minutes during the day. If you are optimistic and relaxed during the day, you will automatically sleep better at night.
Learn the Sleep Exercise and use it after the Robin at night to put yourself to sleep. Just as you are about to drop off to sleep, repeat some of your blessings. You will be amazed at how much happier you will be when you wake up.
Remember: Although poverty is unpleasant, and al though no normal person wants to be poor, you must think constructively, instead of bemoaning your poverty. Cultivate an optimistic frame of mind and you have gone a long way toward improving your condition.
From Lost Manuscripts Library
http://www.sleepsecrets.info
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Depression Treatments And Symptoms Of Anxiety Depression
More than 17 million American people are affected by anxiety depression symptoms, so that the specialists have been calling this illness as psychiatric flu.
When the young people are concerned, the psychiatric factors are the ones that influence the anxiety depression symptoms. People have to be thought by the specialist how to deal with the stress factors and also they need to know how to improve their own capacity of handling these stressing factors. Almost the majority of the anxiety depression symptoms are very respondent to different treatments, especially to medication. As a modality of reducing stress, anyone can cut some hours from the work schedule program and a refusal of some social obligations. As for the more improved stress confrontation capacity, the patient is supposed to do a lot of relaxing exercises, more adequate sleeping hours and a healthy diet.
Finding an effective antidepressant drug is not an easy task, as every individual has one particular set of characteristics and therefore it is not possible a priori to establish which antidepressant will be that effective one. Beyond to depression medication, other treatments like psychotherapy, integrated therapy and depression medication, electro convulsion therapy and the therapy with light are today available. Each one of these approaches has detailed prescription lists. As an example, the depression medication treatment and that psychotherapy one have a rate success from 60 to 80%. This integrated modality has one of its particular indications in the advanced shapes of depression. Some patients show the persistence of residual symptoms between an episode and the other and in the shapes in which depression medication or psychotherapy alone is not effective.
There is a large number of anti depression drugs that can help remedy the harmful effects of the depressive symptoms but some of them have more side effects than others and this is the reason why they get dangerous. Considering from the price point of view, there are cheaper and more expensive anti depression drugs that can be used for treating this disease, but they may have severe side effects, such as: wither mouth, urine abstain, sedation and a lot of sexual problems. Talking about sexual mal functions, some drugs, which were recently discovered, characterize an important development regarding the sexual abnormality. Each medication used for treating the disease in question has a skimpy different profile of side effects, so it may be possible for one to try several solution treatments in order for the doctor to discover the most appropriate one.
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How To Create Your Own Natural Skin Care Recipes
Ever thought of experimenting with your own natural skin care recipes to combat that dry flaky skin?
You have to know that skin basically does everything alone. This means that it can produce enough oil from the sebaceous glands to make it shine and work together perfectly. The problems appear when it becomes dry.
Keeping this in mind there are several solutions you can apply using ingredients already found inside your home or at the local grocery shop.
Remember that what you eat is very important and bad diets or insufficient nutritional ingredients damage every part of the body. To be healthy and have perfect skin a balanced diet is the first factor that has to be taken into consideration. Perfect glowing skin can be achieved.
Have you heard of proteins? Well, they are very important for one’s skin regeneration and repair. Processed food rich in preservatives and salt will take moisture out of your skin. They can also cause the dreaded dry skin everybody is afraid of. Why not eat fish (salmon is the best), turkey, chicken or include in your diet vegetable protein? The all hated vegetables! They contain vegetal protein which is perfect for the body. Avoid frozen food! Vegetables are especially good if fresh.
Why not include in your natural skin care recipes ingredients such as garlic, onions or eggs? The contain Sulfur in a natural form and this substance is very important for the skin. Several multi-vitamins out there also contain sulfur and should be taken into account if your diet is lacking it.
Is your skin cracked? Have you considered being careful that your body receives enough vitamins A and B? Lacks of them cause this. Include in your diet food that contains these vitamins and eat carrots.
Beta-Carotene can be found in them and it’s good not only for your eyes. It plays a significant role in skin care as well.
What you also have to include in your diets number:
* Alpha-Hydroxy acids
* EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids)
* Lactic Acid
* Supplements
* Vitamin E
* Aloe Vera
Another important rule is: Avoid Junk Food! It is simply not good for you from all point of views.
Natural skin care recipes are available everywhere. Some work, some don’t! The best method of choosing one is to ask friends that use them. Also keep in mind that what works for somebody may not work on you! Don’t be discouraged and keep trying.
The best way to keep your skin perfect is by eating healthy and give your body every vitamin and mineral it needs. In most cases there is no need of expensive creams or lotions. A good moisturizer can replace them all if combined with a healthy way of eating.
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The Hormone Replacement Therapy Debate
In recent times, there has been a heated debate within the medical community regarding hormone replacement therapy for women suffering from the effects of menopause. The debate is centered around a number of studies that have concluded that hormone replacement therapy may not be near as effective as was once promoted. Other studies have gone even further, by suggesting that there is a direct correlation between hormone replacement therapy and an increased risk of cancer. For women suffering from this dreaded condition, it is often very difficult to determine fact from fiction.
Many women place a great deal of trust and faith in their doctors. Naturally, they expect their doctor to have their interests at heart and to facilitate a treatment regimen that will benefit the patient and hopefully cure them of what ails them. Sadly, this is not always the case. Many doctors have special relationships with pharmaceutical companies, and in some cases it is suspected that they receive kickbacks for promoting new products. The pharmaceutical industry is not interested in your health. They are in the business of making money, not of curing illness. No illness = no profits. Take what your doctor says with a grain of salt…or perhaps some vitamin C.
This is not to suggest that all doctors are of this mindset, but a great many are. They, too, are in the business of making money. They issue of central importance is your health and wellbeing. The pharmaceutical industry seems to try to create new classes of conditions with each passing quarter. Menopause is not an illness. It is not a disease. Menopause is naturally occurring maturation process that affects women from all walks of life. It is a natural part of the aging process, and natural process is deserving of a natural treatment. Women have found ways to cope with the side effects of Menopause, long before modern medicine tried to turn it into yet another illness to be treated with expensive and potentially dangerous drugs.
There are a number of natural ways to deal with the effects of menopause. Explore your options. Vitamin E is very effective at easing the effects of Menopause. Vitamin B6 works by increasing your body’s natural progesterone production. It also boosts your serotonin production, thereby inducing a sense of calm. Try some Evening Primrose Oil to help alleviate headaches, irritability, cramping, and water retention. It is recommended that you explore every natural treatment option, before you compromise your health further with unnecessary drug therapies. Educate yourself. Your body will thank you for it!
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Support For Organ Donation High Survey
Family consent key
(NC)-Canadians overwhelmingly support the idea of organ donation. A 2001 survey by the Environics Research Group of more than 1,516 Canadians revealed that 96% of Canadians support the idea of organ and tissue donation. They also have a fairly good knowledge of the official way to express their intention to donate with their provinces and territories.
A total of 46% of Canadians have signed their cards or registered their intentions to be a donor with their province or territory. However, 45% remain uncommitted. Only 9% say they have decided not to donate.
89% of those who have signed up (46%) have also discussed their wishes with their families. The challenge facing Canada is to get the 45% who remain uncommitted to take the decision, sign up and then tell their families. It is a life-saving, life-improving decision… and it could be your last.
For more information on organ and tissue donation and how you can donate, visit www.healthcanada.ca/organandtissue on the Internet.
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Add Healthy Fat To Your Diet
Easy ways to include important good-for-you fats in your everyday diet. Add Healthy Fat to Your Diet
1. Try to eat fish twice a week, especially salmon, herring or mackerel. Avoid frozen breaded products made with hydrogenated oil.
2. Sprinkle 2 tsp (10 mL) ground flaxseeds on your cereal or yogurt a few times a week.
3. Use olive or canola oil in salad dressing.
4. Choose cookies and crackers that are not made with hydrogenated oil.
5. If you have a craving for chocolate, eat a few squares of good-quality chocolate made without hydrogenated oil.
6. Occasionally sprinkle walnuts, almonds or peanuts over salads, add them to baking or eat as a fast snack.
7. If there’s a choice at a cocktail party, nibble on unsalted almonds or walnuts — both contain unsaturated fats.
8. Occasionally add an avocado to your salad. It’s a great source of monounsaturated fat, which is linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer.
9. Buy omega-3 eggs, which come from hens fed on flaxseed. They contain seven to 12 times more omega-3 than regular eggs.
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