This article provides information about different types of depression and the symptoms of depression. It also explains how doctors diagnose the most common types of depression.

Depression symptoms vary from one person to the next, and some people have symptoms that others do not have. However, there are some symptoms that are almost always present in cases of clinical depression. In fact, in order to be diagnosed with major depression, a person must have five of the following nine symptoms for at least two weeks.

• Depressed mood most days for most of the day
• Loss of interest in things that used to bring pleasure
• Weight loss or gain without trying to lose or gain weight
• Trouble sleeping
• Noticeable lethargy or restlessness
• Extreme fatigue or lack of energy
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Difficulty making decisions or focusing on tasks
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Major Depression versus Dysthymia

There are several types of depression. The most common types are major depression and dysthymia. Major depression involves severe and debilitating symptoms, while dysthymia is less severe but lasts much longer. Some people suffer from dysthymia for years or even decades before recognizing that they have a treatable medical condition.

Psychologists use a specific guide called the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version four) to diagnose clinical depression. A doctor make a diagnosis of dysthymia if a person has depression symptoms that last for two years or longer. In addition, a person with dysthymia will have two or more of the following symptoms and the symptoms will adversely affect the person’s ability to work, socialize or function in general.

• Decreased or increased appetite
• Fatigue or low energy
• Sleeping too much or not enough
• Low self esteem or the belief that one is worthless
• Hopelessness
• Trouble focusing or concentrating

People with dysthymia often become very good at hiding their symptoms. Sometimes only those who are closest to the person will even know that the depression exists.

How Depression Affects the Body

Depression is a whole body condition. It does not just affect the mind and emotions. Many people visit doctors for physical problems that are, in fact, symptoms of depression. Such symptoms include headaches, backaches, upset stomach, and general aches and pains. Lack of energy and loss of libido are other common physical symptoms that may be related to an underlying depression. Doctors often treat these symptoms with pain killers, antacids or ED medications. The symptoms may go away for a while, masking the underlying problem, but depression almost always returns in one form or another. Sometimes it returns with entirely different physical symptoms, making it even more challenging to diagnose and treat the real problem.

Women and Depression

Women are a bit more likely than men to be diagnosed with clinical depression. There are a few reasons why this is the case. For one thing, women are usually more emotionally sensitive, so depression symptoms are more obvious in them. Men, on the other hand, may act out depression with anger, alcoholism or drug abuse or by working long hours in order to avoid their emotions.

Women may also become depressed after they give birth. This unique form of depression is known as postpartum depression. Its symptoms are similar to those of depression in general but may also include specific feelings about the woman’s ability to bond with or care for her new baby.

You can find out more about the different types and symptoms of depression in “End Your Depression.” The guide also includes a wealth of information on how to recognize and manage the most troubling depression symptoms.

This article provides an overview of how depression is related to anxiety and suggests ways to manage both conditions.

Depression and anxiety are sometimes hard to tell apart. While they may seem like completely different conditions, chronic depression can hide anxiety, while people who suffer from general feelings of anxiety may actually be experiencing a symptom of depression. Further, when people begin treatment for depression, the new focus on underlying issues sometimes causes anxiety symptoms, such as frequent heart palpitations, agitation and feelings of nervousness.

Which is it?

Many times, the same individual feels depressed and anxious, either at different times or at the same time. This can make it more challenging to decide whether the main issue is depression or an anxiety disorder. Symptoms that are the same in both conditions include obsessive thoughts or rumination, panicky feelings, stomach upset and racing heartbeat. Symptoms like sadness, lethargy, hopelessness and lack of motivation are more characteristic of depression than anxiety.

Anxiety may be caused by depression

Many times anxiety escalates because of depression and the behavior associated with being depressed. For instance, if depression causes a person to become isolated, he or she may become anxious about being alone. Depression-related anxiety can also result from financial worries due to the inability to concentrate and work effectively while depressed. Students who suffer from depression may experience anxiety about grades.

What to do about anxiety and depression

Since anxiety and depression are related, they are often treated in similar ways. If medications are prescribed, SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) may be used because these medications target the brain chemical serotonin, which regulates mood. People with higher levels of serotonin experience less depressive symptoms and fewer feelings of anxiety. However, some medications for depression may make symptoms of anxiety worse because raising serotonin levels too much causes a condition called serotonin syndrome which may increase anxiety symptoms.

Anxiety and depression both interfere with the limbic system of the brain – the area that regulates mood. Chemicals like serotonin and others, which are called neurotransmitters, create “good” feelings. When the brain cannot produce these chemicals for one reason or another, feelings of happiness and contentment diminish and feelings sadness, lethargy, anxiety and agitation increase. The goal, then, is to keep levels of mood-regulating neurotransmitters high. While medications can be helpful in this regard, you don’t necessarily need them.

Lifting Mood the Natural Way

Levels of serotonin increase when you exercise, eat a healthy diet and spend time outdoors. That’s why regular exercise and healthy eating habits are so important for people who suffer from depression and/or anxiety disorders. Interestingly, changing the way you think can also raise serotonin levels, which is why counseling and psychotherapy are often helpful.

Since the mind and body are closely connected, exercises that target both, like yoga, meditation and tai chi, can do wonders for people who suffer from chronic symptoms of depression and anxiety. These practices work by calming the mind so that extremes of emotion can be avoided. Guided meditation and hypnosis are forms of mind-body therapy that focus on guiding you to change the thinking habits that contribute to negative emotions.

In some cases, herbal remedies can be beneficial to people who suffer from minor depression or anxiety. One of the most common herbs for depression is St. Johns Wort, but there are many other herbs as well as other nutritional approaches to boosting mood and alleviating anxiety.

More information about natural ways to beat depression and anxiety can be found in “End Your Depression.” You will also learn more about how you can use your thoughts and the power of your mind to manage your emotions.

While at an interview, you may just know what the next question would be. No matter how good you practice for the interview question you may be asked some tricky questions that you need to answer smartly to showcase your skill. A good and smart answer can make your career while a bad one can destroy it. Here are some of the tricky questions that are often asked and how to deal with them.

Get Interview Help here!

What kind and color of car would you like to be? Such question are entirely psychological and it depends on the interview’s perception. However, such questions and questions like what kind of animal would like to be are common. The choices differ according to your personality and attitude and sometimes the choices say a lot about your character. So, you must be careful while answering such tricky questions. For this sample question, if you say a black convertible then it gives out signals like fast and ready to go. However, a pink caddy would give out perceptions like quality, classy, and consistent.

Sometimes, the interviewer may ask you to sell a pen to you in 5 minutes, or questions like sell a refrigerator to an Eskimo are common. In the field of sales, such questions are commonly asked by the regional and territorial directors. A good practice can help you with this as this is a common question asked to comprehend the selling capability of the candidate.

Sometimes, an interviewer may ask you – How would you interview me, if you were in my place? This question can play as an important role in judging the character of a candidate who has applied for an important post. Such questions should be tactfully answered so that the person asking you the question doesn’t feel offended by anything.

Whenever answering a tricky question, always pay attention to the tone of voice and the body language of the employer.

If you need further help with your interview, check out this Interview Guide now!

Download Free Ebooks on Job Search & Careers Here

This article explains that depression is a complex condition that may not have an obvious specific cause. A number of possible causes for various types of depression are provided.

The causes of depression can be difficult to pinpoint. Since more than one factor contributes to the onset of depression in most people, it is almost impossible to say exactly what caused depression in any one person. Depression is not like the flu, where a certain virus is the cause. There are a lot of factors that appear to contribute to depression, and perhaps a group of factors is responsible for causing depression when they come together in a certain way. Many people have a genetic predisposition to depression, but even that in itself does not necessarily mean a person will become depressed. Other factors come into play as well.

Genetics and Depression

Several chemicals in the brain regulate mood and emotions. Known as neurotransmitters, these chemicals include serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Some people have lower levels of these chemicals available. In depression that is biologically or genetically based, depression symptoms are the result of depleted levels of neurotransmitters. A person who is genetically prone to depression may experience a quick downward spiral when something triggers a low mood. When neurotransmitters levels drop, behavior and thought patterns are affected. This can also happen the other way around; that is, depressive behaviors and negative thoughts can lower levels of neurotransmitters. In this way, depression can literally change brain chemistry and become a biological condition over time if it is not treated. When depression takes hold in this way, at least a short course of medication is often the only way to treat it. However, it is sometimes possible to recognize symptoms of depression and treat the condition naturally before it gets this severe.

Developmental causes of Depression

Some cases of depression are triggered by traumatic early experiences, such as being abused, abandoned or neglected in childhood. The theory behind developmental depression is that it is caused by an insecure upbringing that did not allow a person to grow into a happy, confident adult. The result can be a sense of sadness and loss in adulthood. People with developmental depression may be insecure and feel worthless. They may also have difficulty achieving what they want to accomplish in life or even setting goals in the first place.

Situational Depression

Situations such as the death of a loved one, the loss of a job or a life-threatening illness can also cause or contribute to depression. While everyone feels down when bad things happen, situational depression can become full-blown clinical depression in certain cases. If a person is biologically prone to depression or has inadequate support or coping skills, he or she may not be able to recover from a stressful situation and may instead become clinically depressed.

Causes of Major Depression

“Major depression” is the term used to describe a severe and debilitating case of depression. Major depression significantly affects a person’s ability to function, and it almost always requires professional, medical intervention. Biology is most likely to be at least partly the cause of major depression, though the condition can be triggered by something else, such as trauma or loss.

Solving the Mystery of Depression

The cause of depression may not be obvious until it is treated. Often a depression treatment that works for one person may not work for another, and that’s because each case of depression has a unique set of causes. If medication works, the depression has a biological component. If counseling works, there may be a behavioral cause or a problem with thinking patterns. If a change in diet helps, some aspect of the depression may have been caused by a nutritional deficiency. If finding a better job after being fired turns depression around, the cause of the depression was most likely situational.

In the end, knowing what causes depression may not be as important as knowing how to treat it. You can find out more about how to treat specific depression causes in “End Your Depression.” The guide provides a variety of options for treatment from which you can develop a targeted plan that works in your own unique case.

Even if you don’t necessarily suffer from insomnia, perhaps you still feel as if you’re not sleeping as well as you could be. The truth is that sleep is directly linked to many areas of our overall health: our weight, our memory, stress, moods and even disease. If you’re wondering how to sleep better, here are five tips that’ll help you do just that.

=> Can’t Sleep At Night? Are You Making These Mistakes?

1) Find Out What’s Right For You

Do you ever wonder why you’re always feeling tired even though you get just as many hours sleep as your partner? Although it could be related to the quality of your sleep, it also comes down to the fact that different people need different amounts of sleep. For some that may mean nine hours a night, for others just five is enough. Find out what works for you and stick to that at all costs.

2) Establish A Schedule

Once you know how many hours work best for you, start a new schedule. Try to go to bed at roughly the same time each day, and wake up at the same time each morning. There will almost certainly be times when you break the schedule, and that’s fine. But the more you stick to a sleeping schedule, the less occasional breaks in that schedule will affect you.

3) Watch What You Drink

Even if you sleep for a long time, a broken sleep means you’ll feel less alert in the morning. Try to avoid this by emptying your bladder right before you go to bed, and avoiding drinks a few hours before bed time. If you like to drink caffeinated drinks then try to avoid these in the six hours before you usually go to bed, as they will leave you feeling more alert.

4) Watch What You Eat

Eating a heavy meal too close to bedtime can interfere with the quality of your sleep. In particular, try to avoid protein and stick to small snacks full of carbohydrates instead. Try to plan main meals so you eat them a few hours before bed.

5) Let Yourself Relax

There’s a reason why many of us feel so restless during the night, and that’s the fact that we don’t let ourselves wind down. Try to give yourself an hour before bedtime to just relax. This means turning off electronics (which can make it harder to wind down), and relaxing by bathing, reading, or anything else that helps you to unwind. When you do go to bed, don’t go there to read or watch TV: try to keep the bedroom for sleep and sex only.

Knowing how to sleep better is actually fairly simple when you look at the points above. The main problem most of us have is that we’re always busy and on the go. Allow yourself to get into a routine and you’ll probably end up more productive during waking hours!

Find Out How To Get A Better Night’s Sleep Here!

Learning how not to worry is something many of us wish we could do. The truth is, we can. Although worry is inevitable in some situations, most of us worry far more than we need to. Worry has simply become a habit and, like all habits, it can be broken!

Get more help from Panic Away now!

Understand Whether Worrying Can Be Productive

There are two types of worry. The first is the kind of worry that’s good for us, that makes sure we take care of things we need to. The second kind of worry is just a waste of time and leads to mental exhaustion – this is the kind of worry over things that we have no control over.

Think carefully about what you’re worrying about. Learning how not to worry means learning how to differentiate between the two types of worry. If it IS something you can do something about, make sure you take steps to do that. If you sit there doing nothing you’ll only keep worrying. If you know you’ve done all that you can, and there’s nothing more you can do, keep telling that to yourself to put it out of your mind.

Set Aside Dedicated Worry Time

If you find that you’ve got a lot of things on your mind, and they are legitimate things to worry about, try setting aside dedicated time every day to do the worrying. This could mean waiting until your partner is home from work so you can discuss productive solutions together, or it could simply mean taking half an hour to worry each day so that you’ll feel a little better ignoring your worries later on.

Catch Yourself When You’re Worrying

Learning how not to worry isn’t always easy – many of us get carried away with worrying without even noticing! Sometimes we can be doing one thing and suddenly find our thoughts wandering, or we start looking up things on the internet related to our worry. Unless this is going to do something to solve a problem, it’s a waste of time.

But how do you catch yourself? It is going to take practice. If you find yourself worrying at work, put a post-it on your computer or your desk. It doesn’t have to say “stop worrying” – it could be as simple as a picture of a smiley face to remind you to take control of your thoughts again. You also need to be actively looking for worrying thoughts. You won’t always catch worry out quickly, but you’ll gradually catch yourself sooner and sooner.

Remember, learning how not to worry takes practice. At first you might not think that these strategies are working, but with practice you’ll find that taking your mind away from your worries is easier and easier.

More about How You Can Stop Panic Attacks and General Anxiety Fast!

Today’s job market is in a quite sorry shape and still there are more job seekers than there are job openings. Therefore it is highly important that you don’t annoy your potential employers. If you are wondering what I mean by that then read on to get it more clarified. Here are some things that can annoy the potential employers of the companies:

Applying for the wrong job, as in applying for some post that you are not suited for can annoy employers. Always remember to apply for posts that suit your qualification and experience.

Get Interview Help here!

A generic cover letter that is clueless about the position that you have applied for can annoy an employer and your application may go to trash. So, be careful while drafting the cover letters and includes the position that you have applied for and a brief summary of your background.

A meaningless and common objective line in your resume can put off the potential employers. Be creative and write something fresh that is noticed. Make your resume effective so that people take notice of it and not just discard it off as just anther application. Most suitably, your resume should include a list of past experiences and not too much of accomplishments put together.

Don’t lie or just brag about anything during an interview. This way, you stand a high chance to irritate and any your potential employer.

Once you have sent your resume, wait for at least some days before sending a reminder call. If you keep sending regular ‘notify me’ calls then this can be very irritating for the employers. May be they need some time to decide so be patient.

Employers tend to get annoyed if you are unreachable through the phone number tat you provide in your resume. Moreover if you get a message on your voicemail or answering machine, remember t respond quickly.

The crux and the message of all the above is that you must avoid annoying those who hold your future in their hands. Always be cool, and professional, success will be yours!

If you need further help with your interview, check out this Interview Guide now!

Download Free Ebooks on Job Search & Careers Here

If you regularly feel anxious or stressed it can manifest itself in many different ways, including muscle tension, headaches, chest pain and more. This is why relaxation techniques for anxiety are such an important way to relieve the tension and help your mind to feel more calm. Here are five top relaxation ideas.

Find Out How To Stop Anxiety Fast!

1) Diaphragmatic Breathing: When we feel anxious we may start to hyperventilate, taking very shallow breaths. This is why one of the best relaxation techniques for anxiety is to breathe using the full capacity of your lungs. To do this, imagine that you’re breathing into your stomach instead of your chest. Your stomach should rise and fall each time you breathe in and out.

2) Visualization: Visualization is a good way of taking your mind away from whatever it is that’s making you feel anxious, and training it to feel more relaxed even during situations where you wouldn’t normally feel relaxed. Visualize, in detail, sights, sounds, smells and feelings that you would feel if you were in a location that made you feel relaxed and comfortable, like when you’re on vacation.

3) Hypnosis: There are a number of hypnosis relaxation guides available in MP3 form. These will help to guide your mind away from thoughts that leave you feeling stressed or anxious, and can help take you through certain methods to help your body relax, such as progressive muscle relaxation. You can find many of these for free or low cost on the internet or as an app for your smartphone. Make sure you choose one related to your specific issue. For example, there are hypnosis MP3s available for social phobia if your anxiety comes up during social situations, or you could choose hypnosis designed to help you sleep better if your anxiety is increased due to a lack of sleep.

4) Timed Breathing: If you’re stressed and try to breathe deeply you may find it difficult and actually start to hyperventilate. Instead of trying to breathe deeply, for quick relaxation before or during anxious moments you can try timing your breathing. For example, try breathing in for a count of five, and out for a count of 7. Extending your out-breath is shown to help relax your body’s nervous system, and the counting gives you something else to focus your mind on.

5) Improve Your Sleep: Although it’s not a relaxation technique in the same sense as those above, getting enough sleep is important for keeping you feeling physically and mentally relaxed. When you don’t get enough sleep you may start to feel anxious, and vice versa. Some tips include writing down any worries on a piece of paper before you go to sleep to help get them out of your mind. You should also avoid caffeine, and take exercise early on in the day.

Establishing a routine helps to make sleep a lot easier. Make sure you go to bed at roughly the same time each day, don’t perform activities such as watching TV or using your laptop in bed, and try to wake up at the same time each day. These tips, in conjunction with practicing the relaxation techniques for anxiety mentioned above, will help to ensure you’re feeling calm and relaxed throughout the day.

More about How You Can Stop Panic Attacks and General Anxiety Right Away!

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stressful situations in life but, for some, anxiety can become a huge burden. If anxiety is changing the way you live your life, then you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Social anxiety (or social phobia) is the name for anxiety that occurs during social situations. Although there is no simple social anxiety test, there are a number of recognizable symptoms and feelings that can help you to work out what you’re dealing with.

Physical Social Anxiety Symptoms

Perhaps the easiest social anxiety test is to check for physical symptoms. Those with social anxiety may experience some of the following in social situations:

• Shaking
• Blushing
• Sweating
• High blood pressure
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Upset stomach
• Palpitations
• Tension in the muscles

The trouble with these symptoms is that they could also represent a number of other conditions. This is why it’s important to think about what you’re doing when you get them, and how you are feeling emotionally.

Emotional Symptoms of Social Anxiety

As a social anxiety test, doctors may ask questions about your emotions and perceptions of yourself. Many people with social phobia claim that they fear being the centre of attention, are worried that they will look stupid or say something stupid, that they can’t keep up a conversation with others or that people will see the physical symptoms as a sign of weakness. In short, these emotional symptoms can lead to extreme difficulty during social situations, and increase the desire to avoid people.

Social Anxiety Vs. Shyness

Some people believe that social anxiety and shyness are the same thing, but this isn’t necessarily true. You’ll usually find that those with the condition are excessively shy to the point where it greatly interferes with social relationships with others. Many sufferers cannot shake off the negative feeling, and end up avoiding people as a result. Being shy, however, does not necessarily indicate social anxiety. Shyness can be a normal part of your personality, and doesn’t mean you will end up with social anxiety one day. Take your first step to overcoming social anxiety and shyness now!

When to Seek Help

The fact that there is no certain social anxiety test may put some people off asking for help, for fear that they will be told there is nothing medically wrong with them. However, mental health issues such as social anxiety are gaining more and more recognition every day, and there are treatments available to you. It’s important that you talk to your doctor about what can be done to help both the physical and mental symptoms. You can be sure of one thing – there is help available for social anxiety.

Where to Get More Information on Social Anxiety

Learn How To Overcome Social Anxiety here!

One of the biggest No’s when it comes to getting a job, is telling lies to your prospective employer. In most cases the lies get caught and you will end up losing the job. However, if your are fortunate enough to dupe them and get the job by telling lies then this may cause complications for you later during your career in the company.

Get Interview Help here!

A little bit of lie, such as saying that you are sick is something excusable, but lying about your qualifications and experience is just not acceptable. No matter how tempted you feel to lie on this, this will come back to cause you sleepless nights.
Sometimes, when people are desperately looking for a job, they tend to lie in the following ways:

• Putting the name of a friend in the place of the previous employer, in the application form
• Giving out wrong information about the qualification and experience, so that the background matches with the ‘desirable candidate checklist’
• Making up in the qualification and education front
• Saying lies about why you left your previous job. Especially in cases where you say that you resigned, but were actually removed
• Giving wrong reference contacts

There is a little chance that the employers would be duped and the HR would be too lazy to do a background check. However, would you like to risk your entire career like this? This tough job market salutation, it may be quite tempting to tell a lie, but you need to understand that it may have bad consequences.

Most of the times, the employers will get your references checked carefully before taking you in the job. A lie can spill water on all your hard work and preparation. Thus it is highly recommended that you abstain from any temptations to lie to your employer.

If you need further help with your interview, check out this Interview Guide now!

Download Free Ebooks on Job Search & Careers Here