Depression ? Simple Tips to Beat the Blues
If you are suffering from depression, you are not alone.
Depression affects many people at some time in their life, with some of us going through periods of depression that can lift after a very short time, while for others, it can be ingoing for many years.
Whichever category you fall into, here are some simple tips to help you manage your depression.
Depression – What is it?
Depression is best identified as feeling in a low mood. It may not stop you leading a normal life, but things may seem less worthwhile.
Most of us will admit to feeling depressed from time to time and this is perfectly normal.
Depression becomes a problem when it interferes with your day to day activities.
What Causes Depression?
Depression may be caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain or can be triggered by significant life events including:-
• Bereavement
• A traumatic experience, such as rape or physical attack
• Childhood events
• Illness
• Frequent use of recreational drugs
How Do I Know if I am Depressed?
Symptoms of depression may include:-
• Preoccupation with negative thoughts
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Feeling in a low mood most of the time
• Feelings of numbness, emptiness or despair
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• Low self-esteem
• Lack of sex drive
• Lack of confidence
• Pessimistic view of the future
This is no a definitive list and you may experience all or some of these symptoms.
You may also notice changes in your sleeping pattern, your eating habits, or there may be a rise in your alcohol or tobacco consumption.
Depression – Helping Yourself
Knowledge is power. The more you learn about depression, the better equipped you will be to deal with it.
Go to the library, do some research on the internet or join a self-help group where you can gather information about depression and the treatments available.
Being aware of the choices available to you will help you to make an informed choice about treatment if you need to seek help from your healthcare provider.
Whereas many of us may experience bouts of mild depression or low mood, clinical depression is a serious medical condition and if you have been experiencing symptoms described above for some time you should seek medical help as soon as possible.
Depression – Don’t Suffer in Silence
While clinical depression is a serious illness, it can be treated and you do not need to feel ashamed, embarrassed or suffer in silence.
Some people allow depression to go untreated for years but clinical depression will not disappear by itself.
Professional help may include a course of antidepressants together with some counseling.
Depression – Help Yourself
Helplessness is a feeling often experienced by people with depression.
Together with professional help try and help yourself.
• Stay focused – depression can feed on itself and you can find yourself trapped in a vicious circle of negative thoughts that it seems impossible to get out of. Focus on positive thought and the positive things in your life. If you can’t think of any, think of a positive goal you would like to achieve.
• Avoid your own company – depression feeds on loneliness. Try and break the hold that depression has on you. Join a club or self-help group where you can talk to people who have successfully overcome depression.
• Do something worthwhile. Keeping yourself busy will give you less time to dwell on pessimistic thoughts. Take up a hobby or why not join a gym. Regular exercise will have a mental and physical impact on your wellbeing.
• Let go of the past. Many of us make the mistake of hanging on to past hurts and this too can cause depression. If there are things in your life that have caused you upset, past grudges, guilt or anger, perhaps it is time to let go.
Depression is not an easy thing to overcome but it can be done, all you have to do is make he decision to make a change.
Cancer Clinical Trials – the Best Hope to Beat Cancer
Cancer Clinical trials are the mechanism for improving survival and quality of life for individuals faced with a cancer diagnosis. Without trials, we would not know that mastectomy for breast cancer is equivalent to lumpectomy and axillary node dissection. We would not have the evidence that most patients with Hodgkin’s disease, aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and advanced testicular cancer can be cured with chemotherapy. In order to achieve these milestones in cancer treatment success, cancer clinical trials are designed in phases. I have listed some valuable information for you to read in one easy-to-read webpage. This is a free service for our valued readers which can be located on this link: Cancer Clinical Trials
Phase I Trials: The first step in testing a new approach in humans. Data from previous animal and laboratory studies are used to evaluate drug dose, drug metabolism, administration schedule and side effects. Patients are divided into small groups called “cohorts.” Each cohort is treated with increasing doses of the agent or combination until the maximal tolerated dose is reached. The highest dose associated with acceptable side effects is chosen for future studies. Generally, phase I trials are conducted on patients who have advanced disease and a variety of malignancies.
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Phase II Trials: Determining the safety and effectiveness of a new treatment are the primary endpoints of phase II trials. A new drug, combination, or technique is studied on a small and relatively homogeneous group of patients. The type of cancer chosen for a phase II treatment is based on results of Phase I trials and laboratory studies. The primary purpose of most phase II cancer trials is to determine the percentage of patients that show a measurable response to treatment. Additional information on side effects and safety are also collected.
Phase III Trials: These large-scale trials compare a new treatment or combination that has shown promise in Phase II trials to the current standard therapy. Patients are randomly assigned to the standard approach. Phase III trials are critical for advancing the quality of cancer treatment and may establish a new standard of care.
An investigational study or clinical trial refers to a drug or procedure that has undergone basic laboratory testing and received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be tested in human subjects. A drug or procedure may be approved by the FDA for use in one disease or condition, but be considered investigational in other diseases or conditions.
Clinical trials help to identify better and safer anti-cancer drugs. Advances in treatment occur as a direct result of clinical trials. These advances lead to new standards of care and improved quality of life for those battling cancer. New and more effective therapies will translate to a reduction in recurrence rates and to the suffering endured by victims of cancer and their families. For more information on cancer clinical trials feel free to visit our website.