Maca Root Blog

For many sufferers, depression brings on feelings of guilt and shame and because of these feelings, they will not seek help. But are these feelings valid? Lack of understanding ? both in sufferers and non-sufferers ? clouds the issue. So here?s how to end the stigma associated with depression, stress, and anxiety.

1. The majority of people in our society experience psychological problems during their lives: Problems from childhood with parents and siblings; stress at work; marital breakdown; losing loved ones and of course, making mistakes. Very few people go through life without experiencing mental trauma of some description. So there?s nothing odd or unique happening here, indeed, depressive illnesses are as common as colds. More than 20 million sufferers in the USA every year bear this out.

2. These are real illnesses. There?s no stigma associated with diabetes, asthma, or allergies for example, so why should there be with these? Just like the above illnesses, depression, anxiety and stress have specific causes that can be addressed. You wouldn?t think an asthma sufferer could just ?snap out of it?, yet many people say this to depression and anxiety sufferers. Lack of understanding again causes such a reaction and it is the reaction that is wrong, not the sufferer.

3. Suffering a depressive episode is not your fault so why feel guilty? You didn?t wake up one morning and think ?right, I know, I?ll become anxious from now on?. It doesn?t happen like that. No one CHOOSES depression, it can happen to people just like many illnesses do. And like other illnesses, depression can be treated very effectively. But not one sufferer is to blame. You wouldn?t blame someone who hadn?t been taught to read or write, you wouldn?t blame someone who suffered from hay fever so why blame yourself and feel guilty because you?re suffering a stressful illness?

4. If you own a car and it?s broken down you go to a mechanic. If you fall and break your arm, you go to casualty to get it repaired. If you have toothache you go to a dentist to get it sorted. Stressful illnesses can also be fixed, so don?t let guilt or shame stop you from getting help. Just as your body can become ill so can your mind. It isn?t permanent and just as your body can be fixed so can your mind.

5. Many sufferers believe that treating depression is a futile exercise because once you have depression, you have it for life. This simply isn?t true and the depression itself feeds this feeling of helplessness. And believing that depression is incurable further exacerbates the feelings of guilt and shame and fuels the depression. Depression has a specific cause and this root cause can be effectively treated so that depression can be beaten once and for all.

6. Change the way you look at these problems. I know from experience that at the time, stressful illnesses can be overwhelming and you can?t see a way out or how anything good can come of it. But now, I?m glad I had that 5-year period because I?ve come out of it stronger. I learned how to beat depression and deal with the very trying circumstances I was faced with. I now know how to cope with the various trials and tribulations life throws at all of us and those 5 years of depression and anxiety have given me a greater understanding about myself and others. Sure I hated it at the time. But by getting help and learning how depression had entered my life, I became stronger than my depression.

One thing that really helped me was to change the way I thought about what was happening to me. Instead of thinking it was something that no good could ever come from, I looked at it as something that was going to help me to become stronger. What helped me to think this way was discovering how many other people used their illnesses and disabilities to do something positive with their lives. I realized that the same principle could be applied to stressful and depressive illnesses and that they too can be used in a positive way.

The above points clearly demonstrate that the stigmas associated with depressive and stressful illnesses are completely false and I hope you use them to help you win your fight with stress, depression or anxiety.

Until next time.

Copyright 2006 Christopher Green

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 a free mini course, please click here => http://www.conqueringstress.com

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Hello again! Hope you tried the first five tips and you’re ready to try the next five. Here’s another 5 top tips for you to continue your transformation…

6. Plan a weekend adventure. Make it something BIG, something exciting and something you’ve never done before. Some ideas for you to consider: A hot air balloon ride, white water rafting, a survival course, a cattle drive, climb a mountain, scuba diving, whatever you can think of. What’s great about this is the feeling of accomplishment. You’ll bring rich experience into your life and have a lot of fun too!

7. Are you a lonely heart? Maybe you’re still looking for “the right one” or maybe you’ve just come out of a relationship. Either way, it’s time to go and get them! Have a good think about what you want from a relationship. Do you want a serious relationship or just fun? Once you know what you want, try some of these ideas to get a sexy new partner: speed dating, Internet dating, dating agencies, singles nights - there’s lots of ways to meet someone new, make sure you use as many as possible to give yourself a winning advantage. Abandon your prejudices and fears and go and get what you want! NO FEAR!

8. Treat yourself to a pamper day. This is a day where you escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday living and enjoy some stress-free time. You’ll also feel great and give your well being a huge boost. On this day, have a light workout, a swim, a sauna, a Jacuzzi, a steam room. A massage would be nice and if you have access to one, a Turkish baths will give you an invigorating experience. Try to do this at least once a month, it is an excellent stress-buster.

9. Out with the old and in with the new! Clear out all of your old junk, especially anything that reminds you of painful or sad events from your past. A couple of good ideas here would be to have a garage sale or to donate it all to a charity. In this way, you don’t just throw stuff out, you make a contribution for others to benefit from. Once you’ve had a good clear out, give your living space a makeover with new furnishings and accessories. You’ll get plenty of ideas from the myriad of lifestyle magazines now available.

10. Finally, three books that will help you continue your regeneration, They’ve had an amazing impact on my life and I’m sure they’ll do the same for you.

Awaken The Giant Within by Anthony Robbins

Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz

Wishcraft by Barbara Sher

And there you are, ten great ideas to help create a new you! Please try them and I wish you everything from life you wish yourself.

About the author:

Chris Green is the author of the new book “Conquering Fear”, a special program which will show you how to conquer fear and attract greater happiness, success and prosperity into your life. To get your FREE e-course, please go to => http://www.conqueringfear.net

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.

Chris Green is the author of the new book ?Conquering Stress?, a special program which will show you how to conquer stressful illnesses such as depression, anxiety, panic and worry permanently and without taking powerful drugs. You can learn more about this new book and purchase it at http://www.conqueringstress.com

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If you?re feeling like everything is getting on top of you, or you?re finding it difficult to cope or function, or you?re feeling down in the dumps, then try these 5 easy-to-do tips to relieve tension and stress and boost your spirits:

1. Take a relaxing bath. Add music, candles and a glass of your favourite drink: beer, tea, hot chocolate, wine or even champagne. Close the door and forget about everything else for an hour or so. This helps to increase levels of calmness and the calmer we feel, the less likely we are to get stressed out or depressed.

2. Comedy night: get in your favourite nibbles: chips, tortillas, salsa, crackers, cheese, pizza, chocolate, cookies, ice cream etc. Crack open a bottle of wine or pour yourself a beer or two and spend a full evening watching your favourite funny films or comedians. Laughter raises our spirits and is a great antidote to the stresses and trials of modern living.

3. Get out of the firing line: Take off for some peace and quiet for a day or better still a weekend or a week. Take a journal, relax and gather your thoughts. When we?re under pressure or struggling to cope with a major situation or event in life, seeing solutions to our problems can be really difficult. Distance from problems can bring clarity and relieve tension. I love going to the coast when I feel like this and it always, without fail, helps me to calm down and find solutions. I don?t know why but there?s something really soothing about being near the ocean. Being near water, come to think of it.

4. Increase calmness and feel great by indulging in massage. Share a massage with your partner ? create a relaxing atmosphere by softening the lights and have oils and towels to hand. Lavender oil is particularly relaxing. Or, treat yourself to a massage from a professional masseur or masseuse. For a really invigorating massage, visit a Turkish baths if you?re fortunate enough to have one nearby. Massage is very relaxing and increases intimacy between lovers. It?s one huge stress buster as well but be warned, it?s addictive! Not a bad thing to be addicted to though, and it will do you no end of good.

5. Spend a week without watching any television. Television can fill your mind with negativity, bombard you with image manipulation via commercials and give you a distorted view of reality by showing you everything that?s bad about the world. Famines, disasters, murders, violence, war ? the list is endless ? and news programmes and soap operas are full of such events. So give your mind a break from this assault on your senses. Abandon the television for a week and do something more rewarding instead: Read a book, listen to music, socialize, workout, go for a walk or try your hand at something new. If you need to hear the news, listen to a radio news bulletin once a day. But try and avoid them for one week, replace them with something more life enhancing and see how you feel.

The above ideas are very simple to implement but they are also very effective in helping to relieve stress and tension. Give them a try and watch your mood levels rise!

Until next time.

About the Author
Chris Green is the author of the new acclaimed book “Conquering Stress”, the complete guide to beating stress, depression and anxiety, quickly, naturally and permanently. For more information, click here: ==>http://www.conqueringstress.com

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.

Chris Green is the author of the new book ?Conquering Stress?, a special program which will show you how to conquer stressful illnesses such as depression, anxiety, panic and worry permanently and without taking powerful drugs. You can learn more about this new book and purchase it at http://www.conqueringstress.com

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I receive many emails from concerned relatives, partners and friends who are trying to help a loved one suffering the torment of a stressful or depressive episode. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that people who love us are also affected by these illnesses and may find it difficult to understand what’s happening. They want to help, but just don’t know what to do for the best.

Having lived with a depressed partner for 3 years and suffered anxiety and depression for 5 years, I’ve experienced both sides. In this article, I’ll show you exactly what you can do - and, what you shouldn’t do - to help your loved one.

1. Please, however frustrated you feel, please never say to a depressed or stressed person: “Come on, snap out of it. What have you got to be worried or sad about anyway. People have it much worse than you.” Please understand that these illnesses cannot be “snapped out of.” You wouldn’t say this to someone with high blood pressure or pneumonia because you know it isn’t that simple. Stress, depression and anxiety are real illnesses that have specific causes. Asking someone to snap out of it makes that person feel inadequate or that they’re doing something wrong. Absolutely not so. Comparing their circumstances to people who are suffering greater hardship is no use either. I couldn’t have given two hoots about other people when I was ill because their circumstances meant nothing to me. I was struggling to solve my own problems and couldn’t see anything else. Knowing that others are starving, are terminally ill, or suffer in squalor didn’t matter a jot because they didn’t make my problems go away. One more thing about such statements: they confront the sufferer with their illness and they put
pressure on them. This will cause sufferers to retreat further and further into their own world. Better is to offer love and support: “I’m always here if you need me or want to talk.” And 3 little words can mean so much: “I love you.” I didn’t hear them for 3 years and believe me, I
missed them so very much.

2. As a loved one, it is totally natural to want to understand what is happening. Many loved ones conduct research into these illnesses to develop understanding. Nothing wrong with that whatsoever. However, a problem can arise if you start to impose your knowledge on the sufferer.
This happens when you observe certain behaviors and habits performed by sufferers and comment on why they are behaving in such a way. For example, you hear a sufferer put themselves down, so you say “That’s a part of your illness. I’ve been reading about it and self-deprecation is one of the reasons why people become depressed. You need to stop putting yourself down.” Again, this is confrontational and puts the sufferer under pressure. All they’ll do is dismiss your comments and clam up whenever you’re around as they’ll feel they’re being scrutinised. A better way is to challenge them very gently by reminding them of a time when they did something good. For example, you hear a sufferer say: “I’m useless, I never get anything right.” You can say “Sure you do, hey, remember the time when you…”. Do you see the difference in approach? The first is more like a doctor
assessing a patient, the second is just a normal, natural conversation and doesn’t mention stress, depression or anxiety. This is very, very helpful as it shifts focus from a bad event: “I’m useless…” to a good one: “remember when..” without exerting pressure.

3. Finally, you may find a resource - a book, a video, a supplement etc. - that you think will help someone to beat their illness. Perfectly natural. But there’s a problem. It confronts the sufferer with their illness and puts them under pressure to do something about it. The result of this will be resentment followed by retreat into their own world. Isolation is a part of these illnesses. Sometimes, you just can’t bear to be around people. My ex-partner used to sleep
in a dark room for an entire weekend because she just couldn’t handle anyone being around her. “I bore people, I’ve nothing to say of interest and I don’t want anyone asking me how I’m feeling. I just want to be on my own.” I know, it cuts you to ribbons when you hear such words from someone you care deeply about. But please, you must resist the urge to DIRECTLY give them a resource you think will help them. For someone to emerge from these illnesses, they have to make the decision themselves. A direct offer will more often than not be refused. So, if you find something you think will help, leave it lying around somewhere your loved one will find it. The idea here is for them to CHOOSE by themselves to investigate further. Such an INDIRECT approach is more effective because once again, there is no pressure, no reminder, no confrontation. It is the sufferer who takes a willing first step towards recovery.

It is so hard to understand and reach loved ones when they’re caught up in these illnesses but please believe me, these ideas are very effective and they will help.

Until next time.

About the Author
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

You?ll hear many times that single events can trigger a major episode of stress, depression and anxiety. The key word is ?trigger?, because that is all a single event is. It doesn?t actually CAUSE stress, depression or anxiety but it does trigger a sequence of behaviors that lead to mental trauma.

But how does this happen?

Descent into a stressful, depressive or anxious episode happens because of negative and catastrophic reactions to events you are confronted with. One event by itself simply isn?t enough. There are many chain-reactions that take place before a person becomes highly stressed or depressed or anxious, but I?m going to discuss one of the biggest ones: using one event to ascribe catastrophic meanings to all areas of your life ? I call it ?generalizing?.

Let?s take a look at two events that most, if not all humans, will experience during their lifetime:

1. Loss of a job. 2. Death of a loved one.

Loss of a job is a major event that can trigger depression. Please understand, the job loss itself cannot cause depression. It triggers a number of reactions, especially generalization and here?s how it works:

You lose your job and you start to think in general terms:

?Oh no, this is disastrous! How will I cope now? What will people think of me when I tell them? My job meant the whole world to me, now my world is falling apart. I?m nothing without my job! How will I pay the bills? I won?t be able to get another job and life will become a real struggle. Everything is going wrong and I?ll never be happy again!?

Now, this reaction is typical of how a depressive episode can be triggered by one event. Powerful words ? disastrous, nothing, struggle, everything, never ? will stir fearful emotions within you. Self-esteem is being hit, doubt about your abilities is raised, and a catastrophic prediction of the future is made. The job has also been used to ascribe meaning to your whole life and now it?s gone, a feeling that your life has no meaning is also present.

A similar reaction will happen when you lose a loved one:

?I?m devastated! He/She was my whole world, and now my world has fallen apart. Nothing will ever be the same again, I?ll never be happy and I feel empty inside. Life holds nothing for me anymore and I don?t know how I?ll cope without him/her. ?

Can you see the generalizations? Again, we have powerful, negative and emotionally charged phrases to ascribe meaning: whole world, fallen apart, nothing, never, anymore. And a catastrophic prediction for the future is present again.

In both examples, one event has been carried into all areas of your life. With a job loss, enormous importance has been placed on the job itself and now the job has gone, these general meanings cause you serious distress. It?s the same with losing a loved one. Meanings about your whole life have been placed on one person and their passing means your whole life is affected.

In generalizing like this, descent into mental trauma is inevitable.

To stop it, the key skill of keeping perspective is crucial. This means that you keep an event from one area of your life separate from other areas. For example, if the event is job loss, you react without generalizing:

?OK, I?ve lost my job, but my job is just a way to earn income. It doesn?t mean I won?t find a better job nor does it mean that things will change for the worst. My social and home life will still remain the same and I?ll carry on with my life just as I?ve always done. One chapter in my working life has ended and a new one is about to begin.?

Do you see the difference in how keeping perspective and not using powerful, emotionally charged words and phrases will prevent fearful emotions arising?

Please remember that no change is permanent as nothing lasts forever. Things will come into your life and things will move out of your life. It is the cycle of life. Keep things relevant to the area of your life they affect and you will maintain good mental health no matter what circumstances you are faced with.

Until next time.

Copyright 2006 Christopher Green

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 a free mini course, please click here => http://www.conqueringstress.com

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Are you one of over 40 million people suffering a personal nightmare caused by stress, depression and anxiety? These illnesses are the modern plague and they ruin lives. And year in, year out, more and more people are affected.

I came out of a nightmare 5-year period of anxiety and depression and I did it without taking any drugs. What frustrated me is that despite advances in understanding as to why people become stressed, depressed and anxious, sufferers are still told numerous myths about what causes their illness.

This raises an important issue: How can people rid themselves of the pain of these illnesses if they don?t know what is at the root cause? Surely, if progress is to be made, understanding must come first? Well in this article, I?m going to bust the myths and reveal what, EXACTLY, is at the root of these illnesses!

The first myth I want to bust is that a period of serious illness can cause you to become depressed. This could be anything from a nasty virus which confines you to bed for a month or something far more serious such as loss of a limb, cancers, injury, heart attack to name but a few.

None of these illnesses can cause depression, anxiety or stress. It?s very easily proven. Because millions of people suffer from serious illnesses each and every year but only around 20% of them will develop mental illness. If illnesses cause mental breakdown, EVERYONE who becomes seriously ill will enter into an episode of depression, anxiety or stress. They don?t. Why?

Similarly, we can assign the same explanation to traumatic experience. This could be death of a loved one, loss of a job, divorce or moving house for example. Again, every single one of us will experience traumatic times such as these in our lifetime. Yet not everybody enters into a mental illness, even amongst people who have suffered extreme trauma. So we can discount traumatic experience as being at the root cause.

Next on my bust-list is genetics. This is another frequently given reason as to why people suffer from stress, depression or anxiety. But it?s completely untrue. There is no proven link between genetics and these illnesses. In fact, rather than genetics, learned behavior from family members who suffer themselves is the only real link to a family-inherited disposition to stressful illness.

I?ve saved the most widely accepted myth until last and I?ll bet my bottom dollar this is the myth you are not just familiar with but believe to be at the cause of your illness. This is the reason given by the medical community and which has spawned a $12 billion drugs industry to combat it. The myth I?m referring to is of course depletion in neurotransmitters ? the so-called ?chemical imbalance?.

Neurotransmitters are ?happy chemicals? which help to regulate our moods. So, if levels are low, we feel low. To boost these levels, powerful antidepressant drugs are prescribed to sufferers. Sure, they boost levels. But let?s ask a question:

Are low levels of neurotransmitters a cause or a symptom?

Well, every single human being on this earth right now will experience many occasions in their lives when things go wrong, when bad things happen, when times are trying ? in short, times when they won?t be their usual happy selves.
Now, during these times, their levels of ?happy chemicals? will drop, and life will seem a bit of an effort. So, does this mean that everybody on the planet will descend into an episode of stress, depression or anxiety? Of course not!

And do we just wake up one day and feel depressed because the levels of neurotransmitters has ?dipped below the critical level??. No. Because that would mean we?d wake up one day and feel great because the level has risen above the critical point. You know this just doesn?t happen, even after taking antidepressants.

What?s interesting to note is that when we are in an episode of mental turmoil, we also experience physical pain, we cannot sleep or we sleep too much and the feeling of overwhelming exhaustion is also present. But if a chemical imbalance in our brain is at the root, how come you experience physical pain in your legs, arms, and more commonly, your back?

You can see that this is too simple an explanation. This is borne out by the fact that 70% of people who take antidepressants will descend into second and even third episodes of mental breakdown if they stop taking the drugs. This is because antidepressants treat ONE of the SYMPTOMS of mental illness ? depleted levels of neurotransmitters.

It?s nearly time for me to say adios, but before I do, I will reveal what, EXACTLY, is at the root cause of mental breakdown. It is all down to flawed modes of thinking. Because the only difference between people who experience an episode of mental illness and those who don?t is all down to flawed perceptions, assessments, explanations and habits performed by sufferers

The following example will describe this more clearly:

Two people suffer the death of a parent. One is absolutely distraught and finds it very difficult to cope and descends into a depressive episode. The other, although sad at the loss, is coping and doesn?t descend into depression. The only difference lies IN THE WAY THEY MAKE SENSE OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM. The actual event has no meaning by itself. The meanings only lie within the minds of the individuals affected.

To beat mental illnesses such as anxiety, stress and depression, what?s needed is to learn the powerful and effective mental skills ? modes of thinking ? used by people who don?t become stressed, depressed or anxious no matter what happens to them and which stop these illnesses dead in their tracks. Once you learn them, you will rid yourself of the pain once and for all.

Something a bottle of prozac will never achieve.

About the Author
Chris Green is the author of the new book ?Conquering Stress?, a special program which will show you how to conquer stressful illnesses such as depression, anxiety, panic and worry permanently and without taking powerful drugs. You can learn more about this new book and purchase it at www.conqueringstress.com

If you?re feeling like everything is getting on top of you, or you?re finding it difficult to cope or function, or you?re feeling down in the dumps, then try these 5 easy-to-do tips to relieve tension and stress and boost your spirits:

1. Take a relaxing bath. Add music, candles and a glass of your favourite drink: beer, tea, hot chocolate, wine or even champagne. Close the door and forget about everything else for an hour or so. This helps to increase levels of calmness and the calmer we feel, the less likely we are to get stressed out or depressed.

2. Comedy night: get in your favourite nibbles: chips, tortillas, salsa, crackers, cheese, pizza, chocolate, cookies, ice cream etc. Crack open a bottle of wine or pour yourself a beer or two and spend a full evening watching your favourite funny films or comedians. Laughter raises our spirits and is a great antidote to the stresses and trials of modern living.

3. Get out of the firing line: Take off for some peace and quiet for a day or better still a weekend or a week. Take a journal, relax and gather your thoughts. When we?re under pressure or struggling to cope with a major situation or event in life, seeing solutions to our problems can be really difficult. Distance from problems can bring clarity and relieve tension. I love going to the coast when I feel like this and it always, without fail, helps me to calm down and find solutions. I don?t know why but there?s something really soothing about being near the ocean. Being near water, come to think of it.

4. Increase calmness and feel great by indulging in massage. Share a massage with your partner ? create a relaxing atmosphere by softening the lights and have oils and towels to hand. Lavender oil is particularly relaxing. Or, treat yourself to a massage from a professional masseur or masseuse. For a really invigorating massage, visit a Turkish baths if you?re fortunate enough to have one nearby. Massage is very relaxing and increases intimacy between lovers. It?s one huge stress buster as well but be warned, it?s addictive! Not a bad thing to be addicted to though, and it will do you no end of good.

5. Spend a week without watching any television. Television can fill your mind with negativity, bombard you with image manipulation via commercials and give you a distorted view of reality by showing you everything that?s bad about the world. Famines, disasters, murders, violence, war ? the list is endless ? and news programmes and soap operas are full of such events. So give your mind a break from this assault on your senses. Abandon the television for a week and do something more rewarding instead: Read a book, listen to music, socialize, workout, go for a walk or try your hand at something new. If you need to hear the news, listen to a radio news bulletin once a day. But try and avoid them for one week, replace them with something more life enhancing and see how you feel.

The above ideas are very simple to implement but they are also very effective in helping to relieve stress and tension. Give them a try and watch your mood levels rise!

Until next time.

About the author:
Chris Green is the author of the new acclaimed book “Conquering Stress”, the complete guide to beating stress, depression and anxiety, quickly, naturally and permanently. Click Here==>http://www.conqueringstress.com

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What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is one of the most uncomfortable experiences a human being can have. Panic attacks seem to come out of the blue and they can include heart palpitations, tightening in the chest or shortness of breath (which is why they are sometimes confused with heart attacks), choking sensations (which is why you may think you’re going to suffocate) dizziness (which is why you may fear you’re going to pass out), faintness, sweating, trembling, shaking, and/or tingling in the hands and feet. These physiological effects are often accompanied by feelings of unreality, an intense desire to run away, and fears of going crazy, dying or fear of doing something uncontrollable.

Agoraphobia is fear of panic attacks, of going out and being unable to escape if you have a sudden panic attack.

What causes the reactions of a panic attack?

*Although these fears are real at the time, they are primarily the result of adrenaline and other physiological responses that are useful to you when you are really under threat, but are frightening when your mind tricks you into thinking you are.

*Because you start breathing more quickly in the upper portion of your chest, your brain gets less oxygen. As a result, you can have feelings of unreality and disorientation. These reactions can make you think you’re going crazy, but you’re not. No one goes crazy in a sudden or spontaneous way, mental illness develops slowly over time. This kind of breathing can also bring on lightheadedness and fear you’ll lose your balance of faint; just breathe more deeply in the lower part of your abdomen and this feeling will pass.

*Adrenaline dilates the blood vessels in your legs that can make them feel like jelly and you start to tremble and fear you might fall. These sensations will pass if you don’t fight them.

* The tension you feel can affect your inner ear and make you feel dizzy or that things around you are spinning; this is not dangerous and will pass.

* Stress and tension can cause the muscles in your neck and chest to tighten and reduce your ability to breathe. You won’t suffocate. Your brain has a built-in reflex that will eventually force you to breathe.

* A panic attack cannot cause you to have a heart attack even though your heart may beat very fast. A healthy heart is built to beat as many as 200 times a minute for weeks and still keep going. There is a big difference between a racing heart and a heart attack.

* You won’t lose control of yourself. If anything, you’ll be highly focused on one goal, escaping. So, you may try to run away or escape, but losing total control of yourself is a myth, not a reality.

Because of their intensity, they can leave you feeling helpless, terrified and anticipating another attack. While some people have several panic attacks a week, others have one and never have one again or have one every few years.

What can you do to cope with panic attacks so they no longer have the power to frighten you?

* Engage in the regular practice of deep relaxation.

* Exercise every day. Exercise can reduce stress responses such as panic attacks.

* Eliminate stimulants. Stop using caffeine, chocolate, sugar, nicotine, and all stimulant drugs.

* Learn to acknowledge and express your feelings, especially anger and sadness; when you deny these feelings, they can come back to haunt you in the form of panic attacks.

* Learn to challenge your negative thinking patterns and use self-talk that promote a calmer and more accepting attitude toward life.

If you make these 5 lifestyle changes, over time your problem with panic attacks will diminish or vanish entirely. For more specifics on how to change your lifestyle to reduce panic attacks, go to www.carolynchambersclark.com and find a sample chapter and how to obtain LIVING WELL WITH ANXIETY, WHAT YOUR DOCTOR DOESN’T TELL YOU THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

Carolyn Chambers Clark has a masters degree in psychiatric/mental health nursing from Rutgers University, and a doctorate in education from Columbia University. She is author of LIVING WELL WITH ANXIETY and LIVING WELL WITH MENOPAUSE. You can find free articles and newsletters on her web site at www.carolynchambersclark.com

Hello again! Hope you tried the first five tips and you’re ready to try the next five. Here’s another 5 top tips for you to continue your transformation…

6. Plan a weekend adventure. Make it something BIG, something exciting and something you’ve never done before. Some ideas for you to consider: A hot air balloon ride, white water rafting, a survival course, a cattle drive, climb a mountain, scuba diving, whatever you can think of. What’s great about this is the feeling of accomplishment. You’ll bring rich experience into your life and have a lot of fun too!

7. Are you a lonely heart? Maybe you’re still looking for “the right one” or maybe you’ve just come out of a relationship. Either way, it’s time to go and get them! Have a good think about what you want from a relationship. Do you want a serious relationship or just fun? Once you know what you want, try some of these ideas to get a sexy new partner: speed dating, Internet dating, dating agencies, singles nights - there’s lots of ways to meet someone new, make sure you use as many as possible to give yourself a winning advantage. Abandon your prejudices and fears and go and get what you want! NO FEAR!

8. Treat yourself to a pamper day. This is a day where you escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday living and enjoy some stress-free time. You’ll also feel great and give your well being a huge boost. On this day, have a light workout, a swim, a sauna, a Jacuzzi, a steam room. A massage would be nice and if you have access to one, a Turkish baths will give you an invigorating experience. Try to do this at least once a month, it is an excellent stress-buster.

9. Out with the old and in with the new! Clear out all of your old junk, especially anything that reminds you of painful or sad events from your past. A couple of good ideas here would be to have a garage sale or to donate it all to a charity. In this way, you don’t just throw stuff out, you make a contribution for others to benefit from. Once you’ve had a good clear out, give your living space a makeover with new furnishings and accessories. You’ll get plenty of ideas from the myriad of lifestyle magazines now available.

10. Finally, three books that will help you continue your regeneration, They’ve had an amazing impact on my life and I’m sure they’ll do the same for you.

Awaken The Giant Within by Anthony Robbins

Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz

Wishcraft by Barbara Sher

And there you are, ten great ideas to help create a new you! Please try them and I wish you everything from life you wish yourself.

About the author:

Chris Green is the author of the new book “Conquering Fear”, a special program which will show you how to conquer fear and attract greater happiness, success and prosperity into your life. To get your FREE e-course, please go to => http://www.conqueringfear.net
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Anxiety is the number one mental health problem for women (and second only to alcohol and drug abuse for men).

What is anxiety and what causes it?

Anxiety is a technical term for worry, that butterflies in the stomach feeling that can easily escalate. Anxiety comes in many forms—from feeling fearful something terrible is going to happen, to stammering and getting tongue-tied, to stress incontinence, to not wanting to leave the house, to test anxiety, panic attacks, and post traumatic stress reactions.

Anxiety?s a big problem today because the world is so much more stressful than it used to be. The increased pace of society, increased rate of technological change, absence of traditional value, barrages of inconsistent world views, terrorism threats and more make for a lack of consistency. The result is increased stress and anxiety or worry. There are other factors that can cause anxiety from being born an excitable reactive type of person, to a childhood of being around overly cautious or overly critical people, and to a stressful lifestyle.

How to reduce anxiety

There are anti-anxiety drugs to take, but unfortunately, many of them have negative side effects and they can be addictive. Fortunately, anxiety is a learned behavior, and can be unlearned. Safe and effective self-care measures abound. One of the best ways to begin to reduce your anxiety is to see how you might be perpetuating anxiety.

Major ways you might be adding to your anxiety include: avoiding situations that cause anxiety, talking to yourself in a negative way (?I?ll never be able to deal with this!?), negative beliefs (I can?t trust anyone), denial of your feelings, lack of assertiveness, muscle tension (if you relax your body, your mind will follow), lack of self-nurturing, poor nutrition, stressful lifestyle, and not having a purpose for your life.

Dr. Clark teaches in the Health Services doctoral program at Walden University. Her web site at http://www.carolynchambersclark.com offers free articles and newsletters. This article is extracted with permission from her book, Living Well with Anxiety, What Your Doctor Doesn’t Tell You…That You Need To Know (HarperCollins, 2006).

Hello again! Hope you tried the first five tips and you’re ready to try the next five. Here’s another 5 top tips for you to continue your transformation…

6. Plan a weekend adventure. Make it something BIG, something exciting and something you’ve never done before. Some ideas for you to consider: A hot air balloon ride, white water rafting, a survival course, a cattle drive, climb a mountain, scuba diving, whatever you can think of. What’s great about this is the feeling of accomplishment. You’ll bring rich experience into your life and have a lot of fun too!

7. Are you a lonely heart? Maybe you’re still looking for “the right one” or maybe you’ve just come out of a relationship. Either way, it’s time to go and get them! Have a good think about what you want from a relationship. Do you want a serious relationship or just fun? Once you know what you want, try some of these ideas to get a sexy new partner: speed dating, Internet dating, dating agencies, singles nights - there’s lots of ways to meet someone new, make sure you use as many as possible to give yourself a winning advantage. Abandon your prejudices and fears and go and get what you want! NO FEAR!

8. Treat yourself to a pamper day. This is a day where you escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday living and enjoy some stress-free time. You’ll also feel great and give your well being a huge boost. On this day, have a light workout, a swim, a sauna, a Jacuzzi, a steam room. A massage would be nice and if you have access to one, a Turkish baths will give you an invigorating experience. Try to do this at least once a month, it is an excellent stress-buster.

9. Out with the old and in with the new! Clear out all of your old junk, especially anything that reminds you of painful or sad events from your past. A couple of good ideas here would be to have a garage sale or to donate it all to a charity. In this way, you don’t just throw stuff out, you make a contribution for others to benefit from. Once you’ve had a good clear out, give your living space a makeover with new furnishings and accessories. You’ll get plenty of ideas from the myriad of lifestyle magazines now available.

10. Finally, three books that will help you continue your regeneration, They’ve had an amazing impact on my life and I’m sure they’ll do the same for you.

Awaken The Giant Within by Anthony Robbins

Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz

Wishcraft by Barbara Sher

And there you are, ten great ideas to help create a new you! Please try them and I wish you everything from life you wish yourself.

About the author:

Chris Green is the author of the new book “Conquering Fear”, a special program which will show you how to conquer fear and attract greater happiness, success and prosperity into your life. To get your FREE e-course, please go to => http://www.conqueringfear.net
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No ceremony with this article, let?s go straight into five quick ways that will help you find relief from stress, depression and anxiety.

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.

3. Stop beating yourself up. Self-deprecation is a huge part of stress, depression and anxiety. Each time you beat up on yourself, you will erode confidence and self-esteem. Never tell yourself you?re useless, worthless, stupid, hopeless, boring, ugly, and a loser. Never convince yourself that other people hate you, that others find you difficult to be around and that you?re better off being alone. You would never deem it acceptable to say such things to other people and you must deem it equally unacceptable to say them to yourself. These words and phrases are powerful and they will hurt you. Accept you?re not perfect and that you make mistakes ? just like everybody else does ? and cut yourself some slack. From this day, make a pact with me to never indulge self-deprecation ever again. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

4. Isolation is another problem experienced by stress, depression and anxiety sufferers. OK, there will be times when you just want your own company. During such times, you can brood over and over again on problems and events and beat yourself up for hours on end. Not good. Instead, use isolation more positively. Occupy your mind by tackling a jigsaw puzzle, a logic problem, a crossword, read a book or perform a hobby such as painting, playing a musical instrument or whatever it is you have an interest in. In this way, isolation will help you to grow instead of causing you further pain.

5. Television, radio and newspapers can all supply you with a daily hit of negativity and help lower your mood. In the main, they concentrate on the negative side of life: crime, corruption, war, scandal and natural disasters and can give you a distorted view of reality. Not to mention the amount of image manipulation they subject you to. Give yourself a break from this negative drip feed and avoid them completely for one week. You may find, like I have, that they have no place in your life after that. Trust me, you won?t miss them.

That?s five, quick tips for you to help fight stress, depression and anxiety. Please give them a try, they?ll all help to boost your mood levels very quickly indeed.

Copyright 2006 Christopher Green

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 a free mini course, please click here => http://www.conqueringstress.com

In the 21st Century, it is predicted that stress and stress related illnesses such as depression and anxiety will become the biggest killers. Despite significant advances in housing, standards of living, quality of food, and medical science, the pressures all of us have to face in today?s world are as demanding as any pressures experienced by our predecessors.
Why are these illnesses on the rise? And why do some people become so ill through these illnesses, they can find it hard to function?
Well they sure don?t happen overnight! You don?t suddenly wake up one morning and feel stressed or depressed. It?s not like flicking on a light switch! And by the same rule, if you?re suffering, you can?t just wake up one morning, flick off the switch and say ?Great, I?m better now.?
Many people who don?t suffer from these illnesses often say to sufferers:
?Come on, snap out of it.?
If only it was so easy! Should anyone say this to you, please forgive them as it?s just a lack of understanding. It?s very hard for people to understand how you?re feeling if they haven?t been there.
The fact that these illnesses don?t suddenly happen means we can draw some parallels with illnesses such as heart diseases, some cancers and strokes.
Because these illnesses don?t just suddenly happen either.
If we look at heart disease, it?s often the result of damaging behaviors practised over many years. Behaviors such as smoking, lack of exercise and a diet high in saturated fat. Strokes are a result of similar behaviors and cancers too, particularly heavy smoking and drinking as you know.
So how do stressful illnesses such as stress, depression and anxiety compare?
Stress is also the product of harmful mental habits and behaviors. These habits and behaviors are developed and practised over years ? since childhood in most cases. These are the mental processes that enable us to make sense of our lives and the circumstances we?re faced with. When we reach adulthood, we perform them automatically because we?ve learned these behaviors by repetition.
Think of it like learning to drive a car. Initially, the skills required to control the vehicle needed conscious thought. It seemed really difficult didn?t it? But once we?ve performed them for sufficient periods, we drive on auto-pilot. We?ve mastered the required skills by repetition.
Here?s the key: if we eat healthy food, take regular exercise, cut out harmful behaviors such as smoking and drinking, we improve our health and drastically reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and strokes. We are repeating good habits, habits that will give our physical well being a huge boost.
It?s exactly the same for stress. What?s important to understand is that not everyone becomes stressed or depressed ? even when tragic and traumatic circumstances happen to them. Just like people who lead a healthy lifestyle and avoid harmful habits and behaviors, people don?t become stressed or depressed because they have learned effective habits and behaviors that prevent stress from arising.
This is very good news if you suffer from these illnesses. Because just as we can learn habits and behaviors which cause us to become highly-stressed, depressed or anxious, we can learn the habits and behaviors which stop these terrible illnesses in their tracks. And the more often we make use of them, we?ll soon begin to perform them automatically and our mental health will benefit enormously.
No more feeling stressed out. No more feeling unable to cope. No more anxiety and no more depression. EVER.
I?m living proof of this. For 5 years, a series of traumatic events sent me spiralling into an anxiety-induced depression nightmare. I came out of it by learning the natural skills that starve these illnesses. The more I used them, the less anxious I became. They?re now as natural to me as driving a car, and I?ve completely eradicated anxiety and depression from my life.
You can do it too.

About The Author

Chris Green is the author of the new book ?Conquering Stress?, a special program which will show you how to conquer stressful illnesses such as depression, anxiety, panic and worry permanently and without taking powerful drugs. You can learn more about this new book and purchase it at www.conqueringstress.com.
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You?ll hear many times that single events can trigger a major episode of stress, depression and anxiety. The key word is ?trigger?, because that is all a single event is. It doesn?t actually CAUSE stress, depression or anxiety but it does trigger a sequence of behaviors that lead to mental trauma.

But how does this happen?

Descent into a stressful, depressive or anxious episode happens because of negative and catastrophic reactions to events you are confronted with. One event by itself simply isn?t enough. There are many chain-reactions that take place before a person becomes highly stressed or depressed or anxious, but I