"Dealing With Depression and Recommendations"

Question and Answer session from one of our Mirror Athlete Customers. The question is answered by the site health consultant,.

Q. I deal with depression on a daily basis and I'm not sure why I feel so negative. I just don't feel like doing anything and nothing really interests me anymore. Do you have any recommendations on how I can be more positive about life and get out of this funk?

A. Depression is a very tough mental health condition to control and manage on a daily basis, but for the majority that has mild (severe depression - seek professional help) forms of depression can be managed by incorporating some life style change habits. There are many life factors that can depress 1 of 3 elements that make up a person (body, mind and soul). I can say with conviction if you can work to improve one of the 3 elements that make up your total being, you can improve your depressed state. By managing depression your demeanor will become more positive, your body more healthy!

Listed below are some activity recommendations that "can and will" provide happiness and wellbeing while thwarting depression. You'll note in the recommendations I don't list TV, or movie activities as a positive life habit. This is because if you simply watch something as opposed to putting yourself into the actual activity (exercise, travel, etc.), or virtual mental role (a good book, or game that provides a working positive mental experience) it is very tough to beat depression otherwise. I think good books can be a very positive experience. What's the difference between a book and a movie? Movies require no imagination. On the other hand books stimulate the imagination [works the brain], by gaining information, makes you think, which also stimulate knowledge seeking from other sources. Initially, books are an individual healthy mental activity that can/do lead to human exchange, mental stimulation and/or spiritual growth brain function. Communication with others has a very positive effect on those that suffer mild forms of depression.

Remember, positive stimulus of the mind where it is exercised through two-way communication (input/output) plays a combatant role against depression healing the mind & body [body and mind are connected]. I believe certain game stations (computerized virtual activities) can provide a positive mental and physical benefit [as a good book]. However, I think games are better exercised with others... Like cards, game boards, etc. Select one, or two ideals listed below and work towards accomplishing a project, goal, objective, etc. If you make anyone of these activities a continuous life habit, I can guarantee your depression and anxiety levels will decrease or disappear.

1. Find an activity that you enjoy. For example, walking, nutritious cooking, reading, draw, paint, home improvement, gardening, interior design, gym membership, aerobics class, cycling class, travel abroad, fishing, hiking, camping, etc. Each one of these types of activities provides an interactive personal experience to further know oneself and find other experiences outside of your comfort zone.
2. Incorporate a healthy diet into your lifestyle. For example, ensure you get plenty of fresh fish, meat, poultry, vegetables, fruits and fiber. Supplement your diet with a good daily supplement if your schedule simply will not allow you to consume 3 to 4 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Also if your over 45 years of age, or older, you should seriously consider supplementing your diet with other nutrients that we no longer receive from our foods, due to poor crop rotation farming practices, pesticides, herbicides and steroids now found in our foods [organic farms produce live stock and all other natural foods without these poor farming practises].
3. See your primary physician. Ask for a referral to speak with a mental health consultant. This does not mean you are crazy! Pychologists and psychiatrists simply have much more information and tools to offer. Although I promote natural foods & supplements to deal with depression, I also realize there are other "short term" benefits that can be derived through use of pharmaceuticals. I believe the goal should be to find a "natural long term" solution(s) to deal with depression as opposed to long term pharmaceutical use.
4. Stay in touch with family and close friends. The worst thing you could possibly do is to isolate yourself. I understand you may feel like you don't have a friend in the world. This simply is not true! Don't try to deal with depression on your own. Find someone you can talk to. Family and friends are your best source of support. If you can not find this support in your own family, or close circle of friends, call a depression hot line, seek other public health, or mental health service centers and churches in your area, see your physician. You simply must discuss your depression issues with someone if you can not help yourself. To go it alone is very difficult and needs not to be this way.
5. Find the meaning of life. This is very perplexing, personal and is as old as time itself. I believe the meaning of life is a personal experience for each individual and where each one of us is scripted to fulfill a role in this life time and beyond. To not understand your souls spirituality is to not understand your purpose in life and passage to the next (soul is the third component that makes up human). To not understand your purpose in this life and afterlife can be a very depressing proposition. I highly recommend you go on a spiritual journey to understand your purpose here in this life. Choose book topics to expand your souls spirituality by reading biblical studies and prophecy, historical philosophers, current spiritual scholars, authors, ministers, etc., study scripture, afterlife experiences, personal conversations with God, the after world and so forth. Please don't limit yourself to any one religion as God is universal. With a little effort, you will quickly define your purpose here on this planet which will provide a positive mental health experience for you. Also visit our site Wellness Company page. We offer excellent "NATURAL" products scientifically formulated to remove chemical toxin allergies from your home.

Author: Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET. 2008 Copyright. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing, http://www.mirrorathlete.com/ . Sign up for your Free Monthly Health eNewsletter

"Unexplained Weight Gain, What Could Be Causing This?"

Question asked from a Mirror Athlete Enterprise Customer and answered by the site author,

Q. What causes unexplained weight gain?

A. "Wow you didn't hold back anything here!" Seeing that I have no detail... This attracted me to post this question & answer within our monthly health eNewsletter because it is such a vague and broad question to answer to. I'll take this as a personal challenge to meet the key health points that may direct you in an area to do your own research. I also highly recommend you visit our health repository and read my previous health blog articles under "fitness, nutrition and weight management category." Here goes, "I don't believe in unexplained weight gain, I believe there's a logical reason for weight gain." Now that I've set this stage, let me explain.

Causes of weight gain

1. Congenital heart defects cause poor blood-fluid circulation, i.e., fluids in the feet, ankles and legs.
2. Cushing's Syndrome - Is a hormonal disorder caused from prolonged exposure of body tissues to high levels of hormone cortisol (self induced Cushings symptoms from prednisone use). Symptoms include, but not limited to upper body obesity, rounded face, increased fat around the neck, thinning arms and legs.
3. Fitness - Fitness develops muscle cells that weigh more than fat cells.
4. Hypothyroidism - The Thyroid hormone is produced in the lower part of the neck and when the thyroid production falls below normal levels two of the symptoms cause modest weight gain.
5. Kidney failure - The kidneys are responsible for filtering blood and removing waste products, controlling blood pressure and production of red blood cells. Inability to regulate water and electrolyte balance, clear waste products, can cause generalized swelling.
6. Obesity - Excess body fat is "usually" caused by poor diet.
7. Medications - Most medications have side effects. Read signs and symptoms of your medications to determine if this is the cause of your weight gain. Consult your doctor.
8. Pregnancy - Use a pregnancy test to determine if this is the source of your weight gain.

I may not have covered all areas that are the cause of weight gain, but these are the most common reasons for unexplained weight gain. Believe it or not, most of the weight control problems listed above "can be" controlled through proper diet and exercise. I know you've heard this before, but it's true.

Recommendations: Take daily walks to the store instead of driving the car, or walk your dog, or get a fitness membership, etc. Cut your processed food consumption in half. I.e., eat organic 3-4 times a week. Cut alcohol consumption in half. Cut sodium consumption in half. Increase fruits and vegetable consumption daily. Cut red meat consumption in half weekly. Increase poultry and fish consumption in place of red meat. "Quit drinking diet sodas!!! (see my article "Aspartame the Silent Killer," in our Health Repository. Also visit our site Wellness Company page. We offer excellent "NATURAL" products scientifically formulated to remove chemical toxin allergies from your home (simply click on the link below to enter our home site. Also visit our HealthBlog to read similar health articles.

Author: Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET. 2008 Copyright. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing, http://www.mirrorathlete.com/ Sign up for your Free Monthly Health eNewsletter.

Dry Flakey Scalp Caused By Body Toxins?

"Dry Flakey Skin," Question and Answer, asked by a Mirror Athlete Enterprise customer and answered by the site health consultant.

Q. I have flaky dry skin. I've been told I have seborrhea by my dermatologist. I've been given prescription lotions etc. What causes dry skin? Most of my problems seem to be in the scalp. Although my prescriptions seems to work OK, I'm concerned about the side effect risks as you mention regarding man-made products. Is there any natural alternatives, if so what?

A. Seborreah can present itself as dandruff, thick oily, or dry skin on the scalp, armpits, face, or red patches under the breasts. Even though the skin appears dry, it is also oily at the same time. Most moisturizing creams on the market will only make the dry scales redder and more irritable, usually only smoothing out the scaly disorder. It is worth pointing out, this form of skin inflammation (dermatitis) is often misdiagnosed as Seborreah Dermatitis when in fact the irritation to the skin is caused from toxicity issues in the body. Dandruff is a form of seborreah dermatitis that results from neither too little moisture, nor too much oil... The cause of this type of skin dermatitis is unknown. It is for one of the reasons I participate in the wellness company wholesale program. Most dermatitis disorders can be greatly improved, or put into total remission with natural products offered through the Wellness Company Wholesale program (these products are 100% guaranteed - Visit our homesite).

I personally use the Wellness Company vitamins and shampoo to keep my dandruff at bay. If my scalp should have an episode where a boost of natural product is necessary, I use the T36-C5 product. Immediately, the results are achieved within minutes out of the shower. No itching and scalp symptoms improve immediately. Within 48-72 hours my scalp dermatitis issues are resolved. Thereafter, one simply maintains this "unknown cause" condition to the scalp with these natural Wellness Company products.

I like you am greatly concerned about using pharmaceuticals to treat any health-skin condition. This is why the Wellness Company wholesale program made sense for me personally. I have other skin allergies caused by different sources. There are many natural medicine cabinet products offered by the Wellness Company that work for me and will work for you! Now I'm not saying their are not specific skin conditions where great results will be achieved. However, I would highly recommend you try weaning yourself off prescriptions while simultaneously giving a natural medicine cabinet program a shot. What have you got to loose? This recommendation should not keep you from seeing a dermatologist, but provides a "natural cure" option while working with your doctors.

One of the most effective ways to treat toxicity issues within the body is to boost the immune system, get proper nutrition, plenty of water, exercise while using natural medicine cabinet alternatives. As our bodies age, our bodies abilities to protect, detoxify and heal itself becomes less efficient after the age of 25. There are extreme skin conditions including chronic acme [The Wellness Company has a natural solution even for adult acme! "Saving hundreds of dollars in medical bills!]. My contention is, "why manage a condition unnaturally when natural solutions may provide a silver bullet solution for you?" I've found as I age, managing my health conditions and maintaining a balanced body keeping my metabolism close to my youth metabolism now requires a healthy life program which includes a natural medicine cabinet and food nutrient supplement. By doing so, I maintain an efficient metabolism for my age. This provides my body with better toxin(s) removal, cell regeneration-recuperation, weight management, fat reduction, excellent blood pressure, low cholesterol, better strength-endurance, body tone, cardiovascular health, etc., and immune boost... The list goes on. Remember, with all man-made intervention products there are secondary potential risks to your body, mind and soul. If you can manage and maintain your entire body naturally without risk and minimal cost as you age, why would one not do so? We insure everything else, why not our bodies health?

Author: Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET. 2008 Copyright. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing, www.mirrorathlete.com . Sign up for your Free Monthly Health eNewsletter

"Disabilities and Public Perception. Are You Meeting the Disabled Social Expectation?"

I know a lot of you out there are hurting with disabling pain thinking there is nothing more you can do to increase your physical activity, provide further health benefits and/or improving your health condition, or quality of life. There are solutions, but you have to want to become a mirror athlete as your number one goal. Remember a mirror athlete will use health management techniques customized to improve posture, health & fitness levels improving overall daily activities and maintaining a healthy mind, body and soul.

Just curious, are you disabled and fulfilling your disabled "social expectation?" This would be the type of person that accepts their lot in life and basically has given up on their health, activity or physical goals. For example, if you are confined to a wheelchair this does not mean you can't maintain mid-body to upper torso strength, flexibility, tone and overall weight & health management. You also may have gained excessive weight while confined to the wheel chair for example, or maybe you require walking assistant devices, have prosthetic devices to assist you in walking, or gripping. Maybe your pain is so severe due to lack of an adequate pain management program... This keeps you indoors with minimal activity. Or maybe you experience depression on/off seeing no other way out of your medical condition predicament.

I do understand feelings of depression and acute/chronic body pain and loss of productivity and activity as I personally have experienced these things on a daily basis. Yes, depression is never removed from the forefront as this typically goes with chronic pain, but can be managed. I also understand what it's like to be eyeballed as physically weak, a failure in your mind's eye, or inability to financially provide for your family, etc..

"If you are disabled and self fulfilling your disabled social expectation, you don't have to be this way if you choose not to." What I mean by this statement, I know a lot of you former mirror athletes with broken bodies have given up on yourselves because you've had an injury(s), maybe forced to take early retirement and/or may be collecting disability checks, etc. Some of you feel since you are disabled and collecting a disability check, you somehow must earn this support by self fulfilling your role as a disabled person with limited activity. This means you've accepted your health condition misfortune and you feel your medical specialists, or primary care physicians are doing everything possible to assist you and there is nothing further you can do to improve your health situation waiting on the next medical test, appointment or procedure. These facts are not even close to the truth "in most cases" regarding health benefits that can be received, even if your health issue/condition is classified as stationary permanent (means condition is stable, may/may not improve and "may" get worse with age).

My contention is, if you can move segments of your body you "can" receive an activity health benefit. If you can consume calories, you can control and manage what you consume. If you suffer from depression, there is support within the medical community and much information to be found in library's or the Internet. If your on a pain management program, you "most likely can" reduce your daily script to allow focus on activities for periods of time in a day, providing for healthy mind, body & soul.

There is nothing in life that can be accomplished well without proper balance of daily task management and nutrition. Incorporate this mentality with pain, nutrition, fitness, exercise management programs and overall health maintenance on a daily basis... You "can" live your Mirror Athlete lifestyle as best you can and in "most" cases better than you are currently experiencing.

Don't let society dictate expectations... Don't accept or fulfill the disabled expectation. Be a mirror athlete gladiator, take back as much of your life as you possibly can... Control a lifestyle that makes you feel great about yourself! What have you got to loose? Take back what rightfully belongs to you, it's your health!

Author: Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET. 2008 Copyright. All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing, www.mirrorathlete.com Sign up for your Free Monthly Health eNewsletter.