October 29, 2009
Depression in Women @ 5:20 PM
Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Depression is not "one size fits all," particularly when it comes to the genders. Not only are women more prone to depression than men, but the causes of female depression and even the pattern of symptoms are often different.Many factors contribute to the unique picture of depression in women-from reproductive hormones to social pressures to the female response to stress. Learning about these factors can help you minimize your risk of depression and treat it more.
Understanding depression in women
If you’re feeling sad, guilty, tired, and just generally “down in the dumps,” you may be suffering from major depression.
According to the Nathional Mental Health Association:
- Approximately 12 million women in the United States experience clinical depression each year.
- About one in every eight women can expect to develop clinical depression during their lifetime.
Signs and symptoms of depression in women
The symptoms of depression in women are the same as those for major depression. Common complaints include: Depressed mood Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy:
- Feelings of guilt, hopelessness and worthlessness
- Suicidal thoughts or recurrent thoughts of death
- Sleep disturbance (sleeping more or sleeping less)
- Appetite and weight changes
- Difficulty concentrating
- Lack of energy and fatigue
Differences between male and female depression
Although the signs and symptoms of depression are the same for both men and women, women tend to experience certain symptoms more often than men. For example, seasonal affective disorder—depression in the winter months due to lower levels of sunlight—is more common in women. Also, women are more likely to experience the symptoms of atypical depression.
In atypical depression, rather than sleeping less, eating less, and losing weight, the opposite is seen: sleeping excessively, eating more (especially carbohydrates), and gaining weight. Feelings of guilt associated with depression are also more prevalent and pronounced in women. Women also have a higher incidence of thyroid problems. Since hypothyroidism can cause depression, this medical problem should always be ruled out by a physician in women who are depressed.
On a personal note
I have gone through teen depression, post partum depression and have lived in what I would qualify as major depression for the past few years of my life. I have been called a drama queen, a baby, a whiner, bitter, angry, a bitch, etc. I have been told while dealing with post partum in a very messy relationship that I was using my daughter (2nd baby) as a crutch. While dealing with depression hearing all of the criticism and hurtful words being directed towards you or even an annoyed look is the equivalentof being kicked in the ribs while you have you face in the dirt. Not cool. Depression is something that I've been dealing with for so many years and have gone untreated for it as I refuse to become dependant of nay chemical drug, medicinal or not. I've seen what it has done to my mother and it has been anything but pleasent. Before my way of dealing with all of these intense emotions I was feeling as a youth I used to write alot. Alot of poetry, all very angry and depressive poems. That was my own support system for myself as I have parents that grew up in an era and a country where the term "depression" was not heard or known of. I went from a rebellious phase in my teen years where my relationship with my parents was anything but desirable and from that I went into a relationship with the father of my kids which looking at it now, being a more seasoned woman, I can say has been disastrous. But here we are, seperated, but insistent on trying to keep it together. I know its probably doing me more harm then good and perhaps that day will come where I can just let go but until then it just seems like I'm in a sink hole and am just watching myself sink bit by bit. It is my hope that in writing here on this blog a little lightbulb will suddenly go on that will allow me to gain control of my life in a way I never have. A way that will let me grow as a mother, a career woman, a student, a human being.
Labels: awareness, rant, reflection, women's health
October 28, 2009
Where I'm From @ 11:36 AM
I miss my home, my family. I miss where I'm from. Sitting on my grandmother's front porch and watching people pass by to run their errands but they still take the time to yell out a hello or good afternoon, hearing the the sound of the horse drawn carriages and wagons as they approach, seeing people carousel a bike to get from point A to point B. I miss the breeze that hits your face when you sit in the shade of a tree. You can sit anywhere and people will always make it a point to at least give you a nod of the head. People in my town are known as the 'Come Mangos' translation 'Mango Eaters'. Mango trees line the streets and there are fields where mangoes grow as far as the eye could see. I have very fond childhood memories of climbing those trees and swinging from branch to branch in conquest of the biggest juiciest mango I could find.
I miss where I'm from. I miss the cobblestone streets, the colonial church in the centre of town. You can see the volcanoe so clear from the street of the millionaires. Sometimes it decides to hide behind clouds but its majestic base is still there, like a reminder to all of the sleeping giant that may awaken at any given moment. No matter how long you're away from your birthplace, how long its been since all your senses have been awaken by all the sounds and smells from that little piece of heaven, it will always be Home. You will always have the sense of belonging and familiarity. I miss it so much it hurts sometimes. Would you like to see where I'm from? It's one of the most beautiful places on Earth, it's my Home. Look:
Our church with its battle scars from a long war
San Juan del Sur
The entrance to the cemetery. Alot of historical figures are buried here.
The marketplace
Iglesia San Pedro after her facelift. Isn't she beautiful?
Iglesia San Francisco
The park located in the centre of town
Alot of homes are still riddled with bullet holes
Taxi bikes
The street of the millionaires
The giant stirs
Labels: family, home, photos, reflection
October 23, 2009
Past the End of your Nose @ 4:36 PM
When was the last time you took in a landscape? I mean a REAL landscape? Everywhere we look all we see are buildings, people rushing and cars, buses, trucks, etc. zooming by us. People don't even look each other in the face anymore (unless its to screwface someone). We are so unaware of how beautiful this wonderful is, so unaware that we dont care or even think about how we're destroying it. The whole idea of being Eco friendly has just become yet another marketing agenda and another platform for political debate. It does not matter what your political stand, or religious beliefs are. Point of the matter is that we have ONE Earth, one HOME to leave behind to our children and our children's children. Let's look past the end of our noses, past the mad dashes to get from one place to the next and take in the beauty that is there...do you see it? Look a little further...here, let me show you:
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. ~ Native American Proverb
Labels: awareness, photos, reflection
October 21, 2009
Fresh Start @ 1:08 AM
ok. so i've revamped my site in order to reflect where i'm at right now in my life. my link is still the same for it truly represents my mentality. there is in fact colour in a fenced in world. there is always hope within a linked fence, behind barb wires, behind brick walls...there are always those people that manage to make a difference in this world and break those barriers.
i will also be focusing alot more not just on the causes i believe in but also my own personal dreams and interests. living the life i do its not always easy to actually rev in these dreams. wether it be the car of my dreams, my dream home, dream career goals or even my dream pair of shoes that i would like to get. so this way i can take the time to rev in these dreams a little and vicariously live through this blog.
will the blog stay like this? i dont know. couldnt tell you. as i change i'm sure the style and content will change as well. so lets trip, get back up and just put a little dirt in those scrapes together.
October 20, 2009
The Potter @ 5:00 PM
Steady, steady, turns the wheel
Responding to the potter's feel.
Not a wobble left or right
The ball of clay remains quite tight.
A quiet rhythm the potter keeps
In quietness the clay ball sleeps.
Until the potter wets her hands
Aware of rhythm, speed and plans.
The potter sees in the lump of clay
A vase, a bowl, her hands just play.
They coax an edge that will slowly rise
What it will be is no surprise.
The potter senses , her hands feel,
The clay responds to speed of wheel.
Up, up it rises to desired height,
Oh, no, a bubble breaks into sight.
Am I the master the potter quips
And turns the wheel with a tighter grip.
And vows the vase to be the best.
She adjusts the speed, ignores the rest.
Moisture, clay, they're all just right,
This clay must surely stand the height.
It should respond to the master's plans
And rise with rhythm of wheel and hands.
The potter gives the wheel a spin
But the weakness is hidden deep within.
Not perfect! There's an inner flaw
Not even the one potter saw.
The vessel crumbles, it's once more clay
A lump of matter, so it will stay.
It has lost its spirit, so for today
It's just a pile of unwieldy clay.
The potter pops in in a pail
She knows the clay's form will prevail.
The potter cannot have her way.
Without the master it remains just clay.
The potter feels she has lost her touch.
She mumbles and frets and says as much.
How can mere clay so stubborn be?
I'm the creator; it must obey me.
But then the potter thinks of God
The freedom of living that is allowed.
The patient potter pulls away
She'll leave creation another day.
Go down to the Potter;his tender touch
Can mold, can heal, can change so much
Labels: poetry, reflection
