Psychoneuroimmunology is the study of the effect of the mind on health and resistance to disease. It suggests that illness is influenced by the way we think and feel, and displays a relationship between the mind, the emotions, and the body. The nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are now known to be connected, which contrasts previous beliefs that displayed these systems as independent of one another.
There are different parts of our bodies that have different mind-body connections. Scientists and doctors have been studying these today and have done key experiments to find more information.
*the central nervous system is linked to the bone marrow and the thymus- where immune system cells are produced.
*the spleen and lymph nodes-where the immune system cells are stored.
*there are nerve endings in the tissues of the immune system.
*changes in the brain and spinal cord affect how the immune system responds.
*emotions trigger the release of hormones into the system- adrenaline, noradrenaline, endorphins, glucocorticoids, prolactin, and growth hormones.
*the body's immune response can be influenced by stress
*the body's immune response can be "trained"
*immune function can be influenced and changed by psychoactive drugs.
The Major Components
The brain- In the Middle Ages, the scientists regarded the brain as the seat of the soul. But today, we realize that it sends information to various parts of teh body by masterminding nerve impulses that are carried throughout the body.
The immune System- a complex system consisting of about a trillion cells called lymphocytes.
From a personal experience/perspective...
From my own personal experience, I have come to understand the vital connection between the mind and body. Throughout my teenage years, I experienced a lot of health problems and was exposed to a variety of treatments. After years of trying different medications and seeing various specialists, I realized that the most effective treatment would have to balance my physical, emotional, spiritual and mental well-being. This could not be done by medication alone, nor could it be done just by positive thinking and a healthy lifestyle. I had to combine different ‘treatments’ in order to recover from my illness, including: medication, improving eating habits, physical activity, lifestyle, spirituality, and changing my thought process in order to be more positive, selfless, and optimistic about my situation. Through this experience, I learned to recognize the power of the mind in connection with the body and how they can work together to either improve or deteriorate one’s health.
In conclusion: The field of PNI has come a long way in the last decade. Robert Ader said, "Is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning." He is saying that even the funding of research takes places within a limited system. Thoese certain barriers may keep us from finding the most stunning discoveries.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Happy Marriage and Longevity
Love the Lord – Follow Christ and keep an eternal perspective.
Become Productive – Seek to become a happy, productive person in your own right.
Be Happy – Cultivate a cheerful attitude and the ability to laugh, even at yourself.
Develop Friendship – Learning to be a true friend is a perfect preface to a happy marriage.
Create Order – The temple is a house of order and the same should be said of our own homes.
Serve – Practice consistent acts of service and kindness.
Maintain Moral Purity – The law of chastity is a law of happiness, it is a law that protects the sacred powers of procreation and magnifies the lyrical joys of romantic intimacy in a way God created, ordained, and blessed.
Attend the Temple – The temple ordinances focus on the rescue and the salvation of families.
“Preparation for marriage is a lifelong process. It must be planned for, lived for, sacrifices for, prayed for, and even suffered for. Our living cannot be very purposeful if we just glide into marriage without thoughtful preparation.” – Sister Patsy Pollard
“The one who marries to give happiness as well as receive it, to give service as well as to receive it, and who looks after the interests of the two and then the family as it comes will have a good chance that the marriage will be a happy one.” –Spencer W. Kimball
A few tips to a health marriage: Develop, maintain, and cultivate love, support, tolerance, communication, realistic expectations, caring, nurturing, sense of humor, commitment, respect, know how to handle conflict, problem solve together, interdependence, enjoy one another, and have fun together.
“Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years. That is what makes a marriage last.” – Simone SignoretWhat influences a dysfunctional marriage and how to avoid it
It is unrealistic to have the idea that your marriage will be perfect or stress free. All relationships involve wanted and unwanted demands, gratification, conflict, irritation, and pleasure. Frequently conflict, anger, jealousy, criticism, moodiness, extreme financial problems, and abuse of all kinds can occur in a marriage when the couple allows the stress of a marriage to overcome the love of a marriage.
How Marriage Affects Children
In the Journal of Marriage and Family, a study found that children report more warmth for their fathers when their mothers have a higher marital warmth and that both fathers’ and mothers’ relationships with their children depend on the marital quality and on the other parents relationship to the child. Truly happier marriages affect children positively.
Marriage and Health
“Believe it or not, when you choose to marry someone, not only are you choosing how you are going to live your future, who you have children with, who you will share your values with, and who will be your complete companion, you are choosing someone that can directly affect your mental and physical health.” …And we would like to add your emotional, social, and spiritual health as well.
Physical Health Benefits of Marriage
What are some of the physical health benefits of marriage?
- Married people across cultures have better health than unmarried people
- Married individuals have lower rates of alcoholism than their unmarried counterparts because they tend to offer encouragement, support, and protection from daily problems that could otherwise lead them to using alcohol and other drugs
- Married men and women have lower suicide rates than unmarried ones because married people have meaningful social networks of friends and relatives. Meaningful relationships give people a sense of personal value and a feeling of responsibility to others
- Married individuals have less illness, accidents, and murder; they are less likely to die from all causes, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, car accidents, and murder
- Married individuals spend less time in hospitals and have higher recovery rates
- Married individuals tend to have stronger immune systems, making them less likely to catch colds and develop other illnesses than unmarried ones
Emotional Benefits of Marriage
What are some of the emotional benefits of marriage?
- Married individuals have the lowest rates of depressions and schizophrenias compared to the unmarried
- They tend to handle stress and anxiety better than their unmarried counterparts.
- Marriage tends to make individuals to be more motivated to do well at work and to persevere through stressful situations
- Married persons are less likely to be lonely because they always have someone to share their thoughts, feelings, and lives with
- Married persons are more likely to report feeling hopeful, happy, and good about themselves
- Married couples have sex more often and enjoy it more physically and emotionally than their unmarried counterparts
The Family: A Proclamation to the World
“The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Dealing with Stress !!
Stress and college life sometimes seem inseparable. But they don't always have to be "joined at the hip." The five biggest causes of college stress are: peer pressure, competition, separation from family, freedom, and choosing a major/career.
The first step in dealing with college stress is to identify what is stressing you out. Is it exams?, papers, etc. Then try to develop a plan to lower your stress on the subject.
Here are a list of ideas that may help reduce your stress level at college.
* Make a list of everything you need to do the next day each night before you go to bed. This may help you get a good night's rest, which will not only relieve stress, but also help you stay organized and eliminate that last minute frantic feeling.
* Put things on a list that you can accomplish. If your list is unreasonable it will end up making you less productive.
* Try spreading out assignments over a certain amount of time. This way you'll feel less overwhelmed when it's crunch time.
* Get some help if you're feeling stressed about a difficult assignment. Speaking to a professor, teacher's assistant, or tutor may give you a useful confidence boost.
* Set some time aside for yourself whether you need some 'alone' time or you want to be with your friends.
* Try deep breathing exercises to help you relax and clear your mind.
* Don't be so hard on yourself!
ALSO,
Stress mostly boils down to self management. It is up to the invididual to control their stress and how their body reacts to their currently life situation that might be causing tension. It is important to not overlook the problem or the symptoms that result from stress, but rather recognize the importance of returning to their personal equalibrium in order to be an effective worker in their variety of responsibilities. One article suggested that meditation and relaxation in the moment is one of the best ways to deal with stress.
1. Time: Many find that learning how to get into a deep relaxation resolves stress. In stressful moments, it is helpful to be able to take that ability to relax deeply and create it in one minute.
2. Place: Individuals should learn how to find relaxation in any sort of atmostphere or place.
3. Element: Stressed individuals should learn how to relax all parts of their body despite the differing activities they are involved in.
4. Size: Inidivudals should learn to remember to relax. Take the times that their mind are unoccupied and use those times to practice relaxation meditative techniques.
The first step in dealing with college stress is to identify what is stressing you out. Is it exams?, papers, etc. Then try to develop a plan to lower your stress on the subject.
Here are a list of ideas that may help reduce your stress level at college.
* Make a list of everything you need to do the next day each night before you go to bed. This may help you get a good night's rest, which will not only relieve stress, but also help you stay organized and eliminate that last minute frantic feeling.
* Put things on a list that you can accomplish. If your list is unreasonable it will end up making you less productive.
* Try spreading out assignments over a certain amount of time. This way you'll feel less overwhelmed when it's crunch time.
* Get some help if you're feeling stressed about a difficult assignment. Speaking to a professor, teacher's assistant, or tutor may give you a useful confidence boost.
* Set some time aside for yourself whether you need some 'alone' time or you want to be with your friends.
* Try deep breathing exercises to help you relax and clear your mind.
* Don't be so hard on yourself!
ALSO,
Stress mostly boils down to self management. It is up to the invididual to control their stress and how their body reacts to their currently life situation that might be causing tension. It is important to not overlook the problem or the symptoms that result from stress, but rather recognize the importance of returning to their personal equalibrium in order to be an effective worker in their variety of responsibilities. One article suggested that meditation and relaxation in the moment is one of the best ways to deal with stress.
1. Time: Many find that learning how to get into a deep relaxation resolves stress. In stressful moments, it is helpful to be able to take that ability to relax deeply and create it in one minute.
2. Place: Individuals should learn how to find relaxation in any sort of atmostphere or place.
3. Element: Stressed individuals should learn how to relax all parts of their body despite the differing activities they are involved in.
4. Size: Inidivudals should learn to remember to relax. Take the times that their mind are unoccupied and use those times to practice relaxation meditative techniques.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Mind Body Link
The Power of Belief PP
Every day, whether we know it or not, we alter our brain chemistry. We do this through what we eat, what we do, and what we think. These changes in brain chemistry cause transformations in mood and intellectual performance that range from the subtle to the profound. As science has proven, if we change the condition of the brain's neurons and chemistry, our thoughts and emotions change. The reverse is also true: change our thoughts and emotions, and the chemicals within our brains are also changed.
Thoughts and ideas that are maintained consistently over time cause changes in brain chemistry and function. We are shaped by what we think- especially if we think those thoughts consistently over a long enough period of time.
Wisdom for living
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.
Watch your actions, they become your habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.
Anonymous
One of the secrets to making long-term changes in brain chemistry is through consistent types of thinking- optimism, faith, and so forth. Certain daily practices such as meditation, prayer, and relaxation exercises, can foster these long-term, positive changes in biochemistry.
Top ten tips for mind/body Health
1. Your body is your subconscious mind.
2. Your thoughts, beliefs and emotions have biochemical effects in your body.
3. Optimists live longer.
4. Social connections lower your risk of dying at any age.
5. Humility is linked to lower heart disease risk and better relationships.
6. Laughter is good medicine.
7. How well you THINK you are is a strong predictor of your disease risk.
8. Music has powerful healing properties.
9. Group therapy can increase life expectancy in patients with severe illness.
10. Your mind is located in every cell of your body... be careful, your body is
listening!
Every day, whether we know it or not, we alter our brain chemistry. We do this through what we eat, what we do, and what we think. These changes in brain chemistry cause transformations in mood and intellectual performance that range from the subtle to the profound. As science has proven, if we change the condition of the brain's neurons and chemistry, our thoughts and emotions change. The reverse is also true: change our thoughts and emotions, and the chemicals within our brains are also changed.
Thoughts and ideas that are maintained consistently over time cause changes in brain chemistry and function. We are shaped by what we think- especially if we think those thoughts consistently over a long enough period of time.
Wisdom for living
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.
Watch your actions, they become your habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.
Anonymous
One of the secrets to making long-term changes in brain chemistry is through consistent types of thinking- optimism, faith, and so forth. Certain daily practices such as meditation, prayer, and relaxation exercises, can foster these long-term, positive changes in biochemistry.
Top ten tips for mind/body Health
1. Your body is your subconscious mind.
2. Your thoughts, beliefs and emotions have biochemical effects in your body.
3. Optimists live longer.
4. Social connections lower your risk of dying at any age.
5. Humility is linked to lower heart disease risk and better relationships.
6. Laughter is good medicine.
7. How well you THINK you are is a strong predictor of your disease risk.
8. Music has powerful healing properties.
9. Group therapy can increase life expectancy in patients with severe illness.
10. Your mind is located in every cell of your body... be careful, your body is
listening!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Health Meaning and Purpose
1. There many changes happening every day in the scientific world that are changing the way we think about our own health. New connections are constantly being discovered between science, consciousness, and spirituality. Lately, there seems to be a lot of emphasis on how so many parts of ourselves are due to genetics. It is important to realize that our genes do not determine our destiny. We can do things to change what we have inherited. We are all connected in this world, even things once thought to be so isolated. An example of this is that new studies are showing that animals and humans can interact over long distances. There really is a global consciousness. My favorite part of this lesson was that spiritual health begins with understanding the natural laws, and obeying those laws. We need to find our true purpose and then begin to use that knowledge to serve others.
2. Within all of us there is a force, which is the body's constant drive to heal itself, just as nature has a constant drive to heal itself. It is our Inner Light, however effected by our thoughts, emotions, our relationships, environment and our beliefs. We all have an "Informational Matrix" that maintains the harmonious integrity of our body, mind, subtle system, and spirit. When this is corrupted by negative thoughts of emotions, by toxins or other interferences, we can see illness develop. We age because these information systems become corrupted over time.
Health is the natural order of things. The maintenance of health and well-being comes from re-establishing balance and harmony not just in ourselves, but also in our relationships with others, society, and the environment. We are experiencing an extraordinary rate of change in every area of our lives. Our health and wellness are the result of an interplay of neurobiology of culture and of choice, of subtle systems and of spirit. It is interesting to know that environmental factors are responsible for 1/4 to 1/3 of the global burden of disease. An example of this is overexposure to light. Constant exposure to light, particularly artificial light, can produce aberrant signals that disrupt our natural rhythms (mood disorders, and insulin resistance).
BIOFIELD: Our inner light
Hindus refer to it as Prana
Chinese refer to it as Chi
Japenese refer to it as Ki
A biofield is the organizing informational matrix
After Newton had published his laws of mechanics, optics, and gravity, he spent many years looking for the source of life in alchemic experiments. His search was not irrational, given the knowledge of the day. Still, Newton and others who followed the same trail never managed to uncover a signal for a special substance of spirit or life.
Fritz Albert Popp discovered biophotons
BIOPHOTONS: cells and whole bodies emit coherent light
Scientists believe that biophotons may be involved in various cell functions, such as mitosis, or even that they may be produced and detected by the DNA in the cell nucleus.
This light may be the organizing principle in cells
As Latter Day Saints we understand the light of Christ, could this light be that?
We may at our central core all have a holographic structure = our spirit.
Our memory is not just a video of our life events; it is dynamic and malleable and is constantly being edited…
Therefore, we can change our stories and with that remove some of the restrictions that they have imposed upon us.
No surprise, then, that alternative practitioners find many eager listeners when they announce that they go beyond materialism and mechanism, and treat the really important part of the human system - the vital substance of life itself. People's religious sensibilities and images of self-worth are greatly mollified when they are told that they are far more than an assemblage of atoms - that they possess a living field that is linked to both God and cosmos. Furthermore, the desperately ill will quite naturally seek out hope wherever they can find it. So a ready market exists for therapists who claim they can succeed where medical science fails.
2. Within all of us there is a force, which is the body's constant drive to heal itself, just as nature has a constant drive to heal itself. It is our Inner Light, however effected by our thoughts, emotions, our relationships, environment and our beliefs. We all have an "Informational Matrix" that maintains the harmonious integrity of our body, mind, subtle system, and spirit. When this is corrupted by negative thoughts of emotions, by toxins or other interferences, we can see illness develop. We age because these information systems become corrupted over time.
Health is the natural order of things. The maintenance of health and well-being comes from re-establishing balance and harmony not just in ourselves, but also in our relationships with others, society, and the environment. We are experiencing an extraordinary rate of change in every area of our lives. Our health and wellness are the result of an interplay of neurobiology of culture and of choice, of subtle systems and of spirit. It is interesting to know that environmental factors are responsible for 1/4 to 1/3 of the global burden of disease. An example of this is overexposure to light. Constant exposure to light, particularly artificial light, can produce aberrant signals that disrupt our natural rhythms (mood disorders, and insulin resistance).
BIOFIELD: Our inner light
Hindus refer to it as Prana
Chinese refer to it as Chi
Japenese refer to it as Ki
A biofield is the organizing informational matrix
After Newton had published his laws of mechanics, optics, and gravity, he spent many years looking for the source of life in alchemic experiments. His search was not irrational, given the knowledge of the day. Still, Newton and others who followed the same trail never managed to uncover a signal for a special substance of spirit or life.
Fritz Albert Popp discovered biophotons
BIOPHOTONS: cells and whole bodies emit coherent light
Scientists believe that biophotons may be involved in various cell functions, such as mitosis, or even that they may be produced and detected by the DNA in the cell nucleus.
This light may be the organizing principle in cells
As Latter Day Saints we understand the light of Christ, could this light be that?
We may at our central core all have a holographic structure = our spirit.
Our memory is not just a video of our life events; it is dynamic and malleable and is constantly being edited…
Therefore, we can change our stories and with that remove some of the restrictions that they have imposed upon us.
No surprise, then, that alternative practitioners find many eager listeners when they announce that they go beyond materialism and mechanism, and treat the really important part of the human system - the vital substance of life itself. People's religious sensibilities and images of self-worth are greatly mollified when they are told that they are far more than an assemblage of atoms - that they possess a living field that is linked to both God and cosmos. Furthermore, the desperately ill will quite naturally seek out hope wherever they can find it. So a ready market exists for therapists who claim they can succeed where medical science fails.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Why Diets Don't Work
Reasons Diets Don't Work
1. Diet is a lifestyle-not an event
Most people enter into a diet thinking it is going to be a short-term change to lose weight and they can go back to their old lifestyles after they finish losing weight, Wrong! To make a diet successful, people must understand that it is a lifestyle change-not an event. They need to realize that their old lifestyle is what made them gain weight in the first place and that is what needs to be the ultimate change.
2. Food Deprivation and Failure
People also choose to start diets suddenly removing various foods from their diets all at once. This causes a trigger in the mind to want the food more because it knows that it can’t have it anymore. Suddenly the mind only concentrates on the food it can’t have and the cravings start. If at first a person can resist, eventually they may give in and ‘cheat’ which can lead to feelings of failure causing the person to give up altogether.
3. Crash Diets and Metabolism
Another problem is crash diets, or diets where a person stop consuming enough calories to sustain them in the daily activities. This causes the body to ‘freak out’ and lower its metabolic rate and hold on to fat cells incase it needs more energy later. In some cases, a person can gain weight or lose their muscle tissue and not fat cells.
4. Loss of Nutrients
Diets that are limiting remove important nutrients from the body. No one-food group should be limited, especially a basic food group such as fruit or bread, which are popular to not eat during diets. By labeling these foods ‘bad’, people have categorized them into their mind and believe that eating them ever again will cause them to gain weight and fail.
5. Diets Equal Failure
Some people also feel that having to go on a diet means that they failed at life but that a diet will fix the problem. However, they have labeled a diet as a failure meaning they see themselves as a failure just for having to go on one.
6. Eating Disorders
Diets can also lead to eating disorders, which are lead to very serious health problems. A person may start limiting the calories they intake to dangerously low levels. When sustained for more that a short time such as a day of fasting, it can be deemed anorexia nervosa and leads to serious complications. A person may also focus mentally on the food they can’t have and eventually give in and binge on ‘bad’ foods. Feelings of guiltiness can follow with the desire not to fail so they then purge, known as Bulimia Nervosa. In some cases the person does not purge but feels guilty and eats even more. This leads to weight gain and is called ‘compulsive eating’.
Recommendations for Losing Weight
1. Diet is a lifestyle-not an event
Most people enter into a diet thinking it is going to be a short-term change to lose weight and they can go back to their old lifestyles after they finish losing weight, Wrong! To make a diet successful, people must understand that it is a lifestyle change-not an event. They need to realize that their old lifestyle is what made them gain weight in the first place and that is what needs to be the ultimate change.
2. Food Deprivation and Failure
People also choose to start diets suddenly removing various foods from their diets all at once. This causes a trigger in the mind to want the food more because it knows that it can’t have it anymore. Suddenly the mind only concentrates on the food it can’t have and the cravings start. If at first a person can resist, eventually they may give in and ‘cheat’ which can lead to feelings of failure causing the person to give up altogether.
3. Crash Diets and Metabolism
Another problem is crash diets, or diets where a person stop consuming enough calories to sustain them in the daily activities. This causes the body to ‘freak out’ and lower its metabolic rate and hold on to fat cells incase it needs more energy later. In some cases, a person can gain weight or lose their muscle tissue and not fat cells.
4. Loss of Nutrients
Diets that are limiting remove important nutrients from the body. No one-food group should be limited, especially a basic food group such as fruit or bread, which are popular to not eat during diets. By labeling these foods ‘bad’, people have categorized them into their mind and believe that eating them ever again will cause them to gain weight and fail.
5. Diets Equal Failure
Some people also feel that having to go on a diet means that they failed at life but that a diet will fix the problem. However, they have labeled a diet as a failure meaning they see themselves as a failure just for having to go on one.
6. Eating Disorders
Diets can also lead to eating disorders, which are lead to very serious health problems. A person may start limiting the calories they intake to dangerously low levels. When sustained for more that a short time such as a day of fasting, it can be deemed anorexia nervosa and leads to serious complications. A person may also focus mentally on the food they can’t have and eventually give in and binge on ‘bad’ foods. Feelings of guiltiness can follow with the desire not to fail so they then purge, known as Bulimia Nervosa. In some cases the person does not purge but feels guilty and eats even more. This leads to weight gain and is called ‘compulsive eating’.
Recommendations for Losing Weight
***Start small
Don’t expect to plan on losing 20 pounds in two weeks. Set small weight loss goals. Start by just losing 5 pounds and when that is done, try to lose 5 more.
***Get Active
Move around. It is recommended to get 30-60 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. Don’t expect to run a marathon after the first week but try to start walking quickly for 30 minutes and work up to a harder work out.
Habits of People who Have Successfully Lost Weight and Kept it Off
1. They establish reasonable goals for themselves such as 5 pounds first not 30
2. They plan
3. They get adequate sleep. Recommended 7-8 hours a night
4. They participate in regular physical activity. It is recommended to get as least 30-60 minutes .most days of the week
5. They eat a well balanced diet but calorie controlled
6. They eat 5-6 meals a day. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and 2-3 snacks in-between
7. They self monitor- by keeping a journal and weighing themselves frequently
8. They participate in some sort of stress management such as yoga, tai chi, etc
9. The don’t let a ‘lapse’ become a ‘relapse’. If they mess up they recover from it and keep moving forward
10. They have a clear motivation and strong personal reasons for wanting to change
11. Persistence- they keep working at it even when it didn’t work the first time
12. They watched less TV. On average, they watch only t10 hours of sleep a night. The average US citizen watches 28 hours a week
13. They also eat plenty of fiber and calcium and drink lots of water
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Pregnancy & Depression
What is Postpartum Depression?
After giving birth a mother will experience both psychological and physiological changes. Depression felt after giving birth is believed to be caused by the change of hormone levels within the mother’s body. Within the first 24 hours after giving birth, estrogen and progesterone decrease rapidly. Thyroid levels may also drop which lead to symptoms of depression. Symptoms of depression can range from mild to severe and last anywhere from hours to months.
Three Types of Postpartum Depression (PPD) Baby Blues can occur within days after childbirth and may last a few hours to two weeks after giving birth.
The “baby blues” does not always require treatment, but support groups and talking with other mothers often helps.
General Postpartum Depression can occur within a few days to months after giving birth. Symptoms are similar to “baby blues” but more severe. They can last up to a year if not treated through medication, counseling, or both.
Postpartum Psychosis, considered a mental illness, may occur within the first three months of pregnancy. Symptoms are very severe including auditory and visual hallucinations, anger and abnormal behaviors. Medication is almost always needed in treatment.
Signs and symptoms
-trouble sleeping
-sleeping too much
-lack of interest
-feelings of guilt
-loss of energy
-difficulty concentrating
-changes in appetite
-restlessness, agitation or slowed movement
-thoughts or ideas about suicide
-feelings of sadness
-headaches
-difficulty remembering
-excessive worry about the baby
-being afraid of hurting the baby or oneself
Coping with Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression may lead mothers to be inconsistent with childcare. Women diagnosed with postpartum depression often focus more on the negative events of childcare, resulting in poor coping strategies.
Four coping strategies:
Avoidance coping: denial, behavioral disengagement. Avoidance coping is one of the most common strategies used. It consists of denial and behavioral disengagement subgroups (for example, an avoidant mother might not respond to her baby crying). This strategy however, does not resolve any problems and ends up negatively impacting the mother’s mood, similarly of the other coping strategies used.
Problem-focused: active coping, planning, positive reframing
Support seeking: emotional support, instrumental support
Venting: venting, self-blame
Realize this isn’t a disorder. In fact, it’s quite normal. As many as 80% of the moms have experienced some form of these baby blues. It’s important that you recognize feelings of anger, restlessness, irritability and low self-esteem and address them as best you can.
Keep your doctor informed. Most cases of postpartum distress (baby blues) are mild, but sometimes the symptoms are more severe and last for longer periods of time. PPD can affect your emotions as well as your sleeping patterns and appetite. It’s important to you and your child’s health that you communicate with your health care provider.
Medication is an option. In nearly 85% of postpartum depression or psychosis cases suffering women are relieved by this choice.
Support groups can be very successful at mending your sorrows. The objectivity of outsiders can help you work through some of your more difficult feelings. Sometimes sharing is easier when it’s with a stranger who can empathize with your situation.
Above all else, remember to pamper yourself. You can enlist outside help—your mom, mother-in-law, sister, best friend and anyone else who’s interested. Schedule regular visits so that you can get in a peaceful shower or nap. Take the time to paint your toenails or give yourself a facial. These age-old pick-me-ups can be lifesavers.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Now is the time to use your support system. Talk to your spouse about your feelings.
About two weeks after the birth of my daughter the panic set in. What on earth was I thinking when I convinced my husband that it was time to have a baby? I wasn’t ready for this and I sure as heck didn’t know what I was doing. All I knew was to change my daughter's diaper whenever she started to crank and if that didn’t work, I could try to feed her. Frankly, I felt overwhelmed by my new responsibility. By nature I knew I needed to talk about my feelings. I let my family and friends know that I was freaking out and they were there to support me. My husband received countless calls to his pager in the weeks that followed. My mom called daily to see how I was doing. Even our birth class instructor got a couple worry calls in the middle of the day when I couldn’t get a hold of any one else.
Reach out. Your family and friends want and expect you to. You would want your loved ones to lean on you when they need, so don’t deny yourself the strength of your support system.
Natural approach to coping with Postpartum Depression
1. Maintain proper sleep
2. Eat a well-balanced diet
3. Manage anxiety as advised by your health care professional
4. Participate in an exercise program
5. Set realistic goals for yourself
6. Create small and manageable tasks
7. Let others you can trust such as family and friends help you
8.Take some risks. Reach out for experiences and relationships you need if you are to be happier.
9. Do something for someone who is in need.
10. Don’t measure yourself against everyone you meet
11.Take responsibility for your depressive feelings. Recognize they might be doing something for you, protecting your from failures or other consequences you fear. Begin to control these feelings.
12. Don’t hesitate to seek help from trained professionals
13. Engage in physical activity
14. Get together with people – people who are important to you.
15. Talk it out. Let someone you can trust get to know you better.
16.Take time to appreciate yourself and others. Savor the dignity and worth implicit in being a unique human being.
17. Don’t let feelings of hurt and anger smolder inside. Learn to express them appropriately.
After giving birth a mother will experience both psychological and physiological changes. Depression felt after giving birth is believed to be caused by the change of hormone levels within the mother’s body. Within the first 24 hours after giving birth, estrogen and progesterone decrease rapidly. Thyroid levels may also drop which lead to symptoms of depression. Symptoms of depression can range from mild to severe and last anywhere from hours to months.
Three Types of Postpartum Depression (PPD) Baby Blues can occur within days after childbirth and may last a few hours to two weeks after giving birth.
The “baby blues” does not always require treatment, but support groups and talking with other mothers often helps.
General Postpartum Depression can occur within a few days to months after giving birth. Symptoms are similar to “baby blues” but more severe. They can last up to a year if not treated through medication, counseling, or both.
Postpartum Psychosis, considered a mental illness, may occur within the first three months of pregnancy. Symptoms are very severe including auditory and visual hallucinations, anger and abnormal behaviors. Medication is almost always needed in treatment.
Signs and symptoms
-trouble sleeping
-sleeping too much
-lack of interest
-feelings of guilt
-loss of energy
-difficulty concentrating
-changes in appetite
-restlessness, agitation or slowed movement
-thoughts or ideas about suicide
-feelings of sadness
-headaches
-difficulty remembering
-excessive worry about the baby
-being afraid of hurting the baby or oneself
Coping with Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression may lead mothers to be inconsistent with childcare. Women diagnosed with postpartum depression often focus more on the negative events of childcare, resulting in poor coping strategies.
Four coping strategies:
Avoidance coping: denial, behavioral disengagement. Avoidance coping is one of the most common strategies used. It consists of denial and behavioral disengagement subgroups (for example, an avoidant mother might not respond to her baby crying). This strategy however, does not resolve any problems and ends up negatively impacting the mother’s mood, similarly of the other coping strategies used.
Problem-focused: active coping, planning, positive reframing
Support seeking: emotional support, instrumental support
Venting: venting, self-blame
Realize this isn’t a disorder. In fact, it’s quite normal. As many as 80% of the moms have experienced some form of these baby blues. It’s important that you recognize feelings of anger, restlessness, irritability and low self-esteem and address them as best you can.
Keep your doctor informed. Most cases of postpartum distress (baby blues) are mild, but sometimes the symptoms are more severe and last for longer periods of time. PPD can affect your emotions as well as your sleeping patterns and appetite. It’s important to you and your child’s health that you communicate with your health care provider.
Medication is an option. In nearly 85% of postpartum depression or psychosis cases suffering women are relieved by this choice.
Support groups can be very successful at mending your sorrows. The objectivity of outsiders can help you work through some of your more difficult feelings. Sometimes sharing is easier when it’s with a stranger who can empathize with your situation.
Above all else, remember to pamper yourself. You can enlist outside help—your mom, mother-in-law, sister, best friend and anyone else who’s interested. Schedule regular visits so that you can get in a peaceful shower or nap. Take the time to paint your toenails or give yourself a facial. These age-old pick-me-ups can be lifesavers.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Now is the time to use your support system. Talk to your spouse about your feelings.
About two weeks after the birth of my daughter the panic set in. What on earth was I thinking when I convinced my husband that it was time to have a baby? I wasn’t ready for this and I sure as heck didn’t know what I was doing. All I knew was to change my daughter's diaper whenever she started to crank and if that didn’t work, I could try to feed her. Frankly, I felt overwhelmed by my new responsibility. By nature I knew I needed to talk about my feelings. I let my family and friends know that I was freaking out and they were there to support me. My husband received countless calls to his pager in the weeks that followed. My mom called daily to see how I was doing. Even our birth class instructor got a couple worry calls in the middle of the day when I couldn’t get a hold of any one else.
Reach out. Your family and friends want and expect you to. You would want your loved ones to lean on you when they need, so don’t deny yourself the strength of your support system.
Natural approach to coping with Postpartum Depression
1. Maintain proper sleep
2. Eat a well-balanced diet
3. Manage anxiety as advised by your health care professional
4. Participate in an exercise program
5. Set realistic goals for yourself
6. Create small and manageable tasks
7. Let others you can trust such as family and friends help you
8.Take some risks. Reach out for experiences and relationships you need if you are to be happier.
9. Do something for someone who is in need.
10. Don’t measure yourself against everyone you meet
11.Take responsibility for your depressive feelings. Recognize they might be doing something for you, protecting your from failures or other consequences you fear. Begin to control these feelings.
12. Don’t hesitate to seek help from trained professionals
13. Engage in physical activity
14. Get together with people – people who are important to you.
15. Talk it out. Let someone you can trust get to know you better.
16.Take time to appreciate yourself and others. Savor the dignity and worth implicit in being a unique human being.
17. Don’t let feelings of hurt and anger smolder inside. Learn to express them appropriately.
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