How I Beat Depression » Articles on Recovery

College of Montpellier scientists display us how depressive disorder is related to cholesterol and gender

How I Beat Team — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:12:28 +0000

Do you know the Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and University of Montpellier funded experts suggested that managing ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol levels may help avoid mental problems among elderly?

In a newly released issue of the academic journal Biological Psychiatry (http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com) written in July 2010, leading researcher Doctor. Marie-Laure Ancelin of INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale http://www.inserm.fr) documented that gender-specific regulation of levels of cholesterol may help prevent depressive disorder in the aging seniors.

French scientists followed a big group of women and men aged 65 and older for seven years.

They established that depression in women was associated with lower levels of “good” high-density lipoprotein cholesterol READ MORE

Shatter the negative self image and shatter your depression

How I Beat Team — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 10:40:32 +0000

One of the most important discoveries of the 20th Century acknowledging the powerful and influential factor in everyone’s life: self-image. Self-image determines action. If we see ourselves as a a victim we’ll be victimised, if we see ourselves as a failure we will fail, if we see ourselves as dumb we will under-perform. And when the self-fulfilling prophecy comes to pass it is paradoxically welcomed as it’s strengthens and supports the deeply latent self-image and continues to add fuel to the destructive mental fire – burning down a persons chance of genuine contentment, happiness and enjoyment of life.

Most people spend so much time trying to change the perceived external READ MORE

Churchill’s The Black Dog. A helpful analogy for beating depression!

How I Beat Team — Mon, 17 May 2010 09:19:20 +0000

I new about the ‘Black Dog’ comparison quite some time ago, even before I sunk into my deeper depressive episodes about five years ago, it was only though time and with the painful passage of hindsight that I began to truly appreciate how helpful and realistic such a comparison is for people trying to ‘beat’ depression. Please remember ‘beat’ does not mean abolish or eliminate depressive thought and experience altogether, it would be naive and remiss of this site to encourage that line of thinking (such hard headed thinking is often a READ MORE

Complex needs and overly complex therapies – keep it simple

How I Beat Team — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:55:43 +0000

I came across a new psychological philosophy term today, it was when I was listening to my usual Podcast All in the Mind, the topic was personal construct psychology. I must admit I was compelled on hearing the central tenets. Like existentialism this orientation leans toward philosophical underpinnings, the therapist aims to avoid imposing opinion and tries to facilitate the patient to discover and realize their own constructs and how they are indeed modifiable. In my opinion this isn’t radically new or different. I think of some of the humanist and existential perspectives READ MORE

Mutual Support Groups | A Vital Link in the recovery from depression

How I Beat Team — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:37:48 +0000

One thing I totally vouch for is the positive effect and value from support groups. Not necessarily therapeutic groups, I’m more referring to organic mutual support groups run by and for their members. I believe that when done properly (and many statistics back this up) group therapy is a lot more effective than one on one psychotherapy or counselling – when it’s done properly. If you think about it logically for a few moments, it totally makes sense. Just always keep in mind I am not rubbishing one on one therapy at all, sometimes it’s more appropriate than group therapy.

In one-on READ MORE