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Healthy Horizons

Process, write, feedback and rewrite.

Many people get the blues. Most often this is a short-term feeling that is quickly overcome. Depression, on the other hand, is not likely to be as easily fixed. It is a "whole body" illness, involving you physically as well as emotionally. As in any other illness, you begin to weaken--overpowering your body’s needed energy to stay healthy.

Symptoms of depression include but are not limited to:

• persistent sadness and/or emptiness
• feelings of guilt, hopelessness
• helplessness
• insomnia
• fatigue
• loss of energy
• loss of interest in hobbies, pleasure and even sex
• weight loss and/or weight gain
• irritability
• difficulty concentrating, making decisions and remembering
• and persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment.

The result, if left untreated, is deteriorated health and/or suicide.First and foremost, if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, consult a physician immediately. It is in your best interest that you do not try to treat this alone. You may, however, learn methods to aid in your recovery.

There are many forms of therapy offered to treat depression--far too many to address in one article but we will touch on a couple to begin. Your doctor will play an active roll in finding the therapies best suited for you. Your therapy however, does not relinquish as you leave the office. Many sources of depression stem from behaviors learned. As you commit to your efforts of self-help, you will train your mind to accept new behaviors. Behaviors that will prove beneficial as well as enjoyable.

 Journaling is an important method in understanding where our behaviors are born. It is also a sufficient resource to vent and solve problems. You can scream, cuss, have tantrums without the fear of hurting someone you love. Your journal is not just a source of negative feelings though.  t is also a place to feel good. Brag about yourself, in fact, I insist that each day you write at least one positive thought about yourself. You will have this as a source when you begin to feel negative.

Even further are the benefits this journal will give you as a writer.You will most definitely be using it to welcome creative thoughts. Journaling is a benefit to anyone who has a thought, a hope, a dream.

One other form of therapy I would like to briefly touch on is laughter. Laughter allows you to release the same energies as anger and/or crying, although it is much more fun. As you will learn, I can be a bit of a nut so fasten your seatbelts--it’s going to be an adventurous ride!

Your mission, should you choose to do it, is to compile a list of things you either did as a young child that drove your mother crazy or things you wanted to do as a child but didn’t dare. Then pick one, two, or as many as you like and go do it. After all who’s gonna punish you now!

Here’s an example: When I was a child I was put in a cast from my hips to my shoulders in an attempt to straighten the curve in my spine. Just days before I was to get it off, I was fishing crabs out of the creek from the bridge and fell in. My mother was steamed but it was wild!!!

Now, I certainly don’t expect you to go through the agony of a cast but certainly do something as entertaining as playing in the creek. You’ll find it to be very stimulating.

Until next time, feed your mind a humour snack!