Choosing to Feed the Good in Ourselves
Manifesting positive energy in our lives benefits more than just our attitude. Positivity can reduce stress, brighten our countenance and potentially make us a magnet for good. When we are negative, however, we can unknowingly repel people and shut doors rather than open us up to new opportunities.
Though for some of us, remaining optimistic isn’t always easy, especially if we are prone to depression. I am a total believer that our minds are much more powerful than we give it credit for, and that we are truly capable of changing our belief system. It’s not easy. For some of us it is a daily task and requires diligent practice. And how we react to depression, or our “bad day,” is crucial. Read the rest of this entry »
The Daunting Statistics on Depression & Suicide: More Awareness = Less Stigma
According to recent depression statistics, amongst Americans one out of ten claim to be suffering from depression. Nationally, out of all those who suffer only 20 percent actually get treated. In other words, 80 percent of clinically depressed individuals aren’t being treated at all. And the number of depressed individuals increases by 20 percent annually.
Why are so many individuals not receiving treatment for clinical depression? Perhaps the stigma, fear of what family, loved ones, and friends might think or say? Perhaps clinically depressed or the 80 percent that have symptoms of clinical depression are too proud or even embarrassed. Most people do not say that they really enjoy being around someone who is feeling down, especially if the “low days” tend to be often. When depression takes a hold of people susceptible to the illness, it can be situational where the depression is more or less seasonal. Read the rest of this entry »
THE EXTRODINARY HEALING POWER OF MACROBIOTICS
Guest Author
Melanie Patricia Farkash
In 1985 I was introduced to the macrobiotic or brown rice diet. I will take you on the adventure and show you its amazing healing power.
I started on it as an overweight, 38-year-old woman. My health to say the least was not good at all. My teeth had numerous cavities, crowns and missing teeth. My hair was thin. My eyesight was so bad that I wore bifocals for my myopia and a stigmatism. I also had very little night vision, so I never drove after dark. I also have a variety of hemophilia. My doctors tested the blood for years and said I apparently had everything there in terms of plasma and platelets, but the blood just would not coagulate. Read the rest of this entry »
R.I.P. Robin Williams: The Road to Mental Health Awareness is Not Without its Potholes
R.I.P. Robin Williams
DEPRESSION: A Serious Illness
In memory of the very tragic, shocking and sudden suicide of Robin Williams, I am re-posting the following article because I find it fitting for the moment. This was written in April and in my article Are Your Feelings Running Your Life, I provided a list of comedians that I learned had suffered or suffer from depression, bipolar disorder, or some form of mental illness. And yes, Robin Williams was apart of this list. Read the rest of this entry »
The Importance of Listening: Tap into the Journalist inside You
I realized that after experiencing both the good and the bad, the one universal desire that everyone has in common— people want to be understood and heard. Every time we open ourselves up to the world, we welcome in criticism, judgment, and every day reality that makes us flawed and human. So, most of us are grateful when we meet nonjudgmental people.
Some people are more introverted than others, but everyone to some degree enjoys having the opportunity to be heard. And unfortunately we’ve all been a little guilty of interrupting others only to insert our own experiences, stories, perspective, and opinion. Extroverted individuals are often guilty of selling themselves a little too much. Personally, I have always experienced social anxiety. Most people wouldn’t know it because I appear quite talkative, energetic, and openly friendly to any stranger I meet. Though, inside, I am aware of nervous energy and social anxiety that have always been with me. Read the rest of this entry »
Writing With Hope 