Food Habits To Lift Your Mood

Food can play a vital role in maintaining mental health as well as physical health. In general, eating a nourishing diet gives people an overall sense of well-being. There are also some specific nutritional strategies that can help improve mood, maintain healthy brain functioning and help people with depression, anxiety and related disorders.

DIETARY GUIDELINES

The Dietary Guidelines for Adults provide simple instructions for selecting a healthy diet. They are relevant people experiencing a mental illness.

Here are some examples of how the following guidelines can benefit someone with
depression and anxiety, in addition to promoting physical health.

Dietary Guideline

Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious food. Increasing the variety in your diet can help stimulate interest in food when appetite is poor.
Eat plenty of vegetables, legumes and fruits. Some of these foods, such as green leafy vegetables, are particularly good sources of folate.
The nutrient folate has been shown to improve the effect of antidepressant Medications.

Eat plenty of cereals (including bread, rice,
pasta and noodles), preferably wholegrain.

Wholegrain cereals (those with intact kernels) and many fruits, vegetables and legumes have a low‘glycaemic index’ which means that the sugar in these foods is absorbed slowly into the blood stream. This helps to stabilise blood sugars and optimise mental as well as physical performance.
(To check the glycaemic index of a food visit www.glycemicindex.com)

Wholegrain cereals are good sources of fibre. Eating high fibre foods daily and drinking plenty of water helps prevent constipation, a side-effect of some antidepressant medications. These high protein foods are made up of amino acids – essential nutrients for repairing or building new cells.
One essential amino acid is called tryptophan. Regular consumption of protein-rich
foods ensures a steady supply of tryptophan to the brain where it is used to produce serotonin.
Oily fish, such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, perch, sardines and herring are good sources of long chain omega-3 fatty acids. Consuming about 500 mg a day of long chain omega-3 fatty acids is a good preventative measure for mental health, as well as physical health. Two to three meals a week of oily fish or a weekly dose of one oily fish and one white fish meal, together with some omega-3 enriched foods (such as eggs, bread and milk) will achieve this.

Include milks, yoghurts, cheeses and/or alternatives. Reduced-fat varieties should be
chosen where possible.Dairy products are ready to eat, nutrient-dense foods that can serve as palatable snacks for people experiencing loss of appetite and weight. Low-fat varieties are useful when trying to lose or maintain weight.

Milk is a good source of tryptophan. A warm milk drink before bed can help induce sleepiness. Drink plenty of water. This can help alleviate the side-effects of some antidepressants such as dry mouth and constipation. Drinking plenty of water also helps prevent dehydration. Even mild dehydration can affect mood, causing irritability and restlessness.

Limit saturated fat and moderate total fat intake. This assists with weight control and promotes a healthy metabolism and healthy heart.Limit your alcohol intake if you
choose to drink. Heavy drinking can actually contribute to depression or make it worse, since alcohol is a depressant. Even at moderate levels, alcohol can interact with antidepressant medication,reducing its effectiveness.

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No Link Between Suicide and Mental Illness - Suicide Rate Up

With the suicide rate up it is important to remember an important study finding that there is no strong connection between suicide and mental illness. This finding as per the "Suicide resource center" is very important. The importance of this finding stops us from labeling those who have suicidal thoughts as all mentally ill. There are some mental illnesses that are associated with suicide but to label all suicidal thoughts as a mental illness would be wrong. As the suicide rate increases we must take a closer look at this growing problem.

It was easier to classify suicides when we felt that it was only related to mental illnesses, this allowed the medical association to have a quick answer to a growing problem. It is common for the media to report that a person who was off their medicine committed suicide. Although it is possible that a person off medicine could commit suicide it does not answer the problem of why the person has suicidal thoughts. Medicine can help a person with suicidal thoughts but medicine does not cure the origin of suicide thoughts.

Medicine can help a person function that has suicidal thoughts but the cure of suicidal thoughts does not occur with medicine. Often a person will need medicine forever to function.

If it is not mental illness that is causing a person to have suicidal thoughts what is? Firstly to have thoughts of suicide is to think within that you cannot go on one more day. The person is at the end of their rope. A person may see no end to a problem that is in front of them. The answer to the suicidal person is to end it all. It is an escape from a problem that they believe has no solution. Each case is different but there is a common thread that suicidal people have and that is depression. Depression is a growing problem and it is related in many ways to suicide. This is a critical problem that must be addressed immediately. There can be no delay when a person has a long period of depression or has suicidal thoughts.

This is a life or death situation that must be taken very seriously. Suicidal thoughts can surround a person for a long period of time before they act. There are now other methods that can help a person besides medicine and therapy. Medicine and therapy can help but they are not the only approaches. There has been a new approach that has had results that are very helpful; This "Source Fill" approach is helping many people with suicidal thoughts. The problem of suicide can affect anyone family and suicidal thoughts do not discriminate. One must address the problem urgently; it is a matter of life and death.

Continue: Stop suicidal thoughts here http://suiciderateup.wordpress.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Collin_Camino

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Panic , Anxiety attacks at Home/Office/Restaurant/Public Places/Cars/Automobiles

Do you suffer from Panic/Anxiety attacks at home, office, restaurant,public places,automiblies and you dont know what to do and how to be normal and avoid panic attacks.

The answer is simple:

Follow the below guidelines and It should help you in some way.

1) Panic attacks are not physical and it happens inside your mind, so just ignore it.
2) Take a Deep breath and think of a funny situation and carry a joke book and read couple of jokes
3) Carry a Water bottle and have a sip and take couple of deep breaths.
4) Avoid coffee.
5) If you are a choclate lover, try and eat a choclate which sweetens your mouth and will help you to cheer up.

There are many things that you can do to avoid panic attacks permenantly as the above methods are temporary.
For permenant cuare with out a medication visit the below link.

Cure for Panic Attacks - no phill involved.

Fear of Flying/Crashing/panic attacks in plane

Love to travel, yet hate to fly? If you find yourself white knuckling your armrests or gasping for breath whenever your flight takes off, you’re not alone.

Millions of Americans/people have some anxiety over flying, with symptoms ranging from mild concern to paralyzing panic attacks.

How can you learn to cope with your fears?
To begin with, the fear of flying isn’t always about crashing. “In actuality, a large majority of people tend to be claustrophobic, and fear having a panic attack on the plane,” says Dr. David Carbonell, who runs the Anxiety Treatment Center, a private practice in Illinois comprised of a several psychologists specializing in anxiety problems. Other issues that can cause panic on flights include a fear of heights or simply a lack of control. In his book, Panic Attacks Workbook: A Guided Program for Beating the Panic Trick, Dr. Carbonell, who has specialized in anxiety treatment since 1987, describes some of the symptoms of these panic attacks, including heart palpitations, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath and chest pain. Situations such as turbulence and takeoff — or simply hearing inexplicable noises on the aircraft — tend to cause the most anxiety.

All of the doctors we spoke with agree that while terrorism is a relatively common concern, fewer people actually sought treatment for their fear of flying after September 11. “I think it actually acted as an additional excuse for people to not get treatment,” says Dr. Gerald Tarlow, co-founder of the Center for Virtual Reality Therapy, a privately-run institute in Calabasas, California that uses virtual reality computers to simulate experiences for patients to confront their fears and phobias. “If they were afraid of flying previously, what they tended to do is say ‘See, it really is dangerous.’”

At the Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute of Maryland (ASDI), an independent treatment center in Baltimore operating since 1992, Stephanie Thomas explains that those who did develop a phobia of flying after September 11 “already had some kind of anxiety, but 9/11 acted as a catalyst for them to act out on it.”

Of course, there are all sorts of statistics out there to show just how safe flying can be. We’ve all heard that flying is far safer than driving a car. Thomas likes to open her fear of flying courses with the example that, based on statistics, “You’d have to fly every day for 32,000 years before you’re in a fatal crash.”

In fact, statistics compiled by www.planecrashinfo.com state that the odds of being killed on a single flight, out of the top 25 airlines with the best records, are 1 in 6.3 million; for the bottom 25 airlines with the worst records, the odds are 1 in 543,000. But no matter how comforting these numbers may be to some, chances are they are not going to make a big difference to those with a significant fear of flying.

Dr. Carbonell points out that if sufferers don’t know how to cope with their anxiety, their efforts to control it may actually make the situation worse. “They try to pick the best day to fly; they try to pick the safe airline. They do all sorts of things to control their fear, and those efforts make them feel worse, rather than better.”

He also explains how reactions can cause the fear to build upon itself; for example, panicked breathing can lead to hyperventilation, which can cause lightheadedness, dizziness and chest pains. Thomas agrees, “Anxiety is a physiological reaction to perceived danger. Some people like to go on roller coasters for the adrenaline rush. This is the same [type of] situation, but the difference is the interpretation of your reactions. When people try to avoid the fear, it makes it bigger.”

All agree that anxiety is a treatable condition, and use a combination of cognitive and behavioral therapies to deal with the fear of flying. Translation? Learning how to cope with your physiological reactions, and then putting that knowledge to the test on an airplane

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Panic Attack While Flying

Do you suffer panic attacks while flying.
Do you suffer from panic attack while on top of a building.
Do you suffer from panic attack while getting downstairs.

Watch out this space for remedy for the above problems.

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Panic Attack Journal

Today I want to introduce you to a very powerful little technique for people who suffer from panic attacks (also known as anxiety attacks). It may not eliminate your panic attacks like the One Move* can but it is very good for getting through a difficult episode of anxiety and learning the key factors that trigger your panic attack.

Let me explain it briefly here:

When you feel the anxiety or panic a ttack building, and your thoughts become more fearful, take a pen and paper and begin to write down each and every feeling and thought you experience.

Write them in detail exactly as you experience them as if you were a newspaper reporter. Go into as much detail as possible. How does it make you feel? What are the symptoms? How strong are the sensations? How scared do you feel on a scale of 1 to 10.etc

Do not worry that you may be writing too much or too little. Try to elicit the first thought that started the worry and continue from there, describing the bodily sensations as they wash over you. See if you can remember any anxious thoughts you had when you first awoke that day and any more that occurred throughout the day. Write it all down.

This is a subtle but powerful technique -not only does it distract you from the anxiety and give you a safe area to release what you are feeling, (onto paper) but it also helps you better understand exactly what triggers your fears. You will feel much less anxious for having done this exercise and you can apply this whenever you feel the fear rising again.

I suggest you buy a small journal just for this exercises and use it anytime you feel the arrival of anxiety. You can then keep track of how you are progressing over time. People I teach often use this method in combination with the PANIC AWAY course and it helps them chart a marked improvement in their progress.

The very act of expressing what we feel helps us reduce the emotional tension we fe el inside. In this case you are expressing yourself through writing. You will be surprised at how powerful it can be. More so you will be creating an account of your progress as you move out of the anxiety and return to a more relaxed mode of living.

Next email Giridhar I will share another interesting tip that I think you will find most useful one that is simple and very effective.

Until then…
Kind Regards
Joe

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How to choose a mental health care taker

Mental Health Care

Many of us visit the docs regularly for our physical needs, our psychological care can be pushed to the side in light of more pressing issues. However, there are many health concerns that are not physical which still require attention, and they fall into the realm of mental healthcare. Choosing your mental healthcare provider requires some time and effort. After all, you could be spending long sessions pouring out your heart to this person. There are a number of things you should consider to develop your care plan for mental health.

Relationship

Unlike a medical doctor who spends a limited amount of time with you, you need to feel comfortable with your therapist or mental healthcare provider. Observe the personality and mannerisms of the therapist you are considering – you should feel comfortable talking to them, and feel that they respect and support you in what you have to say. A good way to find someone who will be a good fit is to ask friends and family to refer someone they know. This is also the time to think about any preferences in terms of gender, religion or cultural background. National mental healthcare associations can also provide listings of mental healthcare providers in your area. You can sign up for a single session with the goal of getting to know the therapist and his or her traits before signing on long-term.

Experience, Qualifications & Reputation

In addition to personality, be sure to consider what a potential mental healthcare provider is qualified to do. There are a number of professionals in the mental healthcare field including psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists and nurses. Certain individuals may have specialties in certain areas or only treat specific age groups or mental health concerns. Furthermore, only some types of therapists (such as psychiatrists) are legally permitted to prescribe medications, so if you or your doctor suspect that drug treatment may be necessary, you should choose accordingly.

Also take into account the experience and reputation of whoever will be managing your care plan for mental health. It’s an important part of your overall health, so try to choose someone who has adequate experience in the type of treatment you need. Ask your potential therapist how long they have been practicing, or whether they have led any research in the field. Often, those individuals who have a sincere interest mental health will have done research in it as well.

Logistics

In addition to the personal and professional fit you are looking for, make sure your mental healthcare provider also fits your lifestyle and your budget. First, keep in mind that your insurance may only apply to certain types of therapy from certain groups of specialists. If you do not have any coverage but are going ahead with treatment anyway, keep the costs in mind. Second, find out how flexible you need your therapist to be. If you work 9 to 5 and your ideal therapist only works afternoons, you may need to reconsider your choice. Finally, decide if you would be interested in individual, group or family therapy. If so, find out which mental healthcare providers offer this sort of therapy and what the benefits are to you.

Finding the right care provider to meet your needs in the personal, professional and logistical realms is important. By evaluating each possible care provider in these three areas, you will help to ensure that you find someone who will guide you well along the path to good mental health.

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