How to Heal Depression - Part three: There Is No Need to Suffer

More than eighty percent of the people with depression can be successfully treated.

Long-term, expensive treatments are seldom necessary.

Modern treatment for most depression is antidepressant medication and short-term "talk" therapy--usually just ten to twenty sessions.

Treatment for depression is relatively inexpensive but whatever the cost, it is more than made up for in increased productivity, efficiency, physical health, improved relationships, and enjoyment of life.

Yes, life will always have its "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune," and, yes, they will hurt. But there's no need to suffer from depression as well.

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Owen Wilson tries ancient Red Indian cleansing ceremony for his depression

Washington, Oct 13 : It seems that the troubled movie star Owen Wilson has taken solace in ancient Native American remedies in order to get rid of the depression that led to his suicide attempt. The 'Wedding Crashers' star was escorted by his brothers Andrew and Luke on the trip to Arizona where they saw the new glass walkway, which allowed the tourists to look directly into the Grand Canyon. A bystander told the National Enquirer that it was on the walkway that a Hualapai medicine man performed a cleansing ceremony for the actor, waving sage over his head while dancing and chanting. "They stayed on the platform for about 30 minutes - with the medicine man chanting and dancing the entire time. Afterward, Owen seemed happy, and he was chatting with tourists," Contact music quoted the bystander, as telling. The actor landed in hospital after slashing his wrists after a reported booze and drug binge at the end of August, but is now recovering.

Owen in a 'cloud of depression'

SUICIDE bid star OWEN WILSON plunged into a “cloud of depression” after splitting with KATE HUDSON, a friend revealed last night. The 38-year-old Wedding Crashers actor has a reputation as a Hollywood party animal. Yet he failed to show at summer beach bashes thrown in Malibu and Beverly Hills. And pals described him as “MIA” — missing in action. One friend said Wilson’s rift with film beauty Kate late last year hit him hard. The pal added: “He seemed to go into a cloud of depression. He was down and didn’t open up. He kind of changed.”

Wilson was still under observation in a hospital detox unit after slashing a wrist and swallowing pills. He issued a plea for privacy in what he called a “difficult time” but made no mention of his suicide attempt. Pulp Fiction star SAMUEL L JACKSON was one of the first visitors to his bedside at LA’s Cedars-Sinai hospital. Friends fear Wilson was pushed over the edge by magazine photos of Kate, 28, kissing her new fella, comic DAX SHEPPARD. But rumours in the US suggested the star also had a drink and drugs problem.

And another friend said the star rowed with a close pal before cutting his wrist. Model Izabella St James told how Wilson used to be a regular at wild parties at the Playboy mansion, often leaving with two busty blondes. She said: “He liked threesomes, especially with blondes.” Wilson has dropped out of his latest movie project Tropic Thunder, which is directed by pal BEN STILLER.

Tropic Thunder was scheduled to shoot in several weeks. Other in-the-works projects such as Drillbit Taylor and Marley & Me are progressing as scheduled. Meanwhile, Owen's friends and colleagues have been quiet, awaiting his lead.

A look at Wilson's collaborations with filmmaker Wes Anderson, which he has called his most personal films, are often comedic meditations on depression, alienation and suicide:

•Bottle Rocket (1996). Wilson and brother Luke star as aimless and less-than-sane buddies on a crime spree. Luke's character was recently released from a psychiatric clinic.

•Rushmore (1998). Bill Murray plays a depressed industrialist who in one scene sinks himself to the bottom of a pool to isolate himself. He finds new passion competing with a prep-school student for the love of a teacher.

•The Royal Tenenbaums (2001). A functional dysfunctional family is the center of this story. Wilson's real-life brother Luke acted out a stark suicide attempt, slashing his wrists in a sink.

•The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004). Wilson stars as a soft-spoken young man who believes a famed oceanographer (Murray) is his father. He reveals that his mother committed suicide.

•The Darjeeling Limited (2007). Wilson stars with Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman as estranged brothers who go on a spiritual quest in India. Wilson plays a control freak whose face and arms are scarred from a motorcycle crash that may not to be as accidental as it first seems.

We wish the best to Wilson, not because he is a star, or rich, or Hollywood-connected, but because he’s a human being with an illness, one that can be treated just as physical ailments can be treated. We hope in time he recovers and can speak openly of his struggle, because the public might be more receptive to the educational process for mental illness and its sufferers if the words come from a movie star. Any boost in education would be welcome, not just for the benefit of the millions of people who suffer from treatable mental illnesses, but for society as a whole.

 

How to Heal Depression - Part two: If You Need It, Get Help at Once

If you think you need help, don't hesitate. Get it at once. Call your doctor.

If you feel suicidal and are afraid you might act on it, please call 911, your doctor, a crisis prevention hotline, or go immediately to your local hospital emergency room. (Our thoughts on suicide are on page 36.)

You should also seek help at once if you...

--feel you are "coming apart"

 

--are no longer in control

 

--are about to take an action you may later regret

 

--turn to alcohol, drugs, or other addictive substances in time of need

 

--feel isolated with no one to turn to

This is no time to "be brave" and attempt to "go it alone." In fact, asking for help takes enormous courage.

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Dorothy Hamill, America's sweetheart, discusses her struggle with the demons of depression

Despite her success, Dorothy Hamill has endured intense bouts of depression that at times lead her to feel suicidal.

Dorothy Hamill still has it: the sparkling charm, and the athletic grace that won her Olympic gold in 1976. Her dazzling smile made her America's sweetheart when she won figure skating gold in the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. At nineteen years old, Hamill was thrust into the spotlight and mobbed for autographs. She was a star, but she didn't feel like one. "When you have that goal and you have that dream and it actually happens, you think that it would be a switch," she told CBS News correspondent Thalia Assuras. "And that all of a sudden you'd feel, you know, like an Olympic champion. And I didn't feel any different." At 51, Hamill now recognizes that she, like some 20 million Americans, suffers from depression. It was a family secret that tarnished her Olympic gold. She reveals the truth behind her victory in her new book, "A Skating Life: My Story." My whole family," she said, "my father's side, there was a great deal of depression, and my mother's side as well." Hamill had a strained relationship with her mother, who she said had a lot of negative feelings. "And I think passed that on to, actually, my brother and my sister as well as me," she said. The youngest of three children, it was Hamill who had the drive and determination to become a world class figure skater. And it was her mother who woke at 4 every morning to drive her to the rink. A mother, she now realizes, whose own depression often left the little girl sad and confused. "Very complicated, yes," she said of her relationship with her mother. "I'm still searching to try and figure it out." During Hamill's proudest moment, on the Olympic podium in 1976, her mother was back at the hotel. It is a memory that still hurts. "I guess it was the one time where I really hoped that she would say, 'I'm proud of you.' Or, you know, 'We did well together,'" Hamill said. "It was kind of sad and disappointing." After the Olympics, Hamill began spiraling into different worlds. She did a famous commercial for Clairol shampoo, championing the "short and sassy" haircut. She turned pro and commanded high prices as a performer in the Ice Capades. And there was romance with Dean Paul Martin, son of the legendary Dean Martin, whom she married in 1982. She began living the Hollywood lifestyle of a movie star. "It really was a magical time," she said. "It really was." But there was also a great deal of stress. Hamill was working herself to the point of exhaustion. Martin struggled with his own demons as the son of a star and the husband of America's sweetheart. The two divorced. A short time later, Martin was killed when his plane crashed into the San Gordino Mountains shortly after take off on a routine training mission. Hamill still keeps his photo in her bedroom. "I think there was still that sort of sense of hope that maybe one day we would get back together," she said. But it was her second divorce, from Ken Forsythe, involving a bitter custody battle and bankruptcy after the couple's Ice Capades business failed, that drove Hamill to the brink of despair. "I would describe it as I'd be sitting there having a conversation. Everything would be fine and then I would just be in tears," Hamill said. "Uncontrollable tears, and you know, wanted to sort of - suicidal times. I was in my car and I just kinda wanted to drive into a wall, a cement wall, and be done with it. It was my daughter, just the thought of 'I would never do something so selfish as to leave her, you know, without a mom.'" Her daughter Alex, now a freshman in college, has inherited the family illness, a struggle her mother wishes she didn't have to endure. "It's knowing the pain," she said. "You know, how just awful it is." Today, despite an active performing schedule, lots of friends and a busy life in Baltimore, Hamill still has bouts of depression. "It's all I can do to get off the couch or, you know, can't even unload a dishwasher. I mean, it really is debilitating," she said. Medication and therapy help, says Hamill. But perhaps what keeps her on track and what has kept her from complete darkness is what she's known and loved her whole life. "That sort of magical cool air and the wind at my face and music," she said. "It just sort of always lifts me out of my funk."

Staving Off Holiday Stress And Depression

I remember feeling astonished at a patient of mine in the Denver veterans' hospital who, when I discussed discharging him home for the holidays, began sobbing and asked to be allowed to stay until after Christmas. The holidays were too stressful for him, he said. When I'd moonlight in emergency rooms as a doctor in training, the number of people overcome with grief and anxiety during the December holidays always increased. So I was thrilled when Dr. Neil Price, a psychiatrist at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, offered to write the following piece on holiday stress:
Every holiday season you can expect to see a plethora of articles abut the “holiday blues” or “Christmas depression.” The content of these stories is as predictable as sidewalk Santas and noisemakers on New Year's Eve. What, if anything, should we take away from these depressing commentaries on the holiday scene? Are they simply a plot directed at us by the Scrooge society? After all, why aren't there any articles about Valentine's Day blues or Halloween depression? The focus is on the holiday season because at no other time of the year are so many of us subjected to so much stress. From Thanksgiving week to New Year's Day we attempt to cope with an increasing level of stress. By January it often has taken a significant toll on us both physically and emotionally. Let's examine ways of dealing with this stress.

There are two major classes of stress — biological and psychological. Biological stressors are those that directly affect our bodies. As the days get shorter in November and December (January February), many people are significantly affected by the decreasing availability of sunlight. This causes them to get out of sync with their normal biological rhythm. After several weeks of this, they feel increasingly fatigued, which may affect their ability to function.

In addition, the decreased sunlight causes an increased appetite with a pronounced craving for sweets, which can bring on undesirable weight gain. All of these changes are a part of what is called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. SAD is particularly troublesome during the holiday season when there are increased demands on our time and energy.

Several ways to reduce these effects include getting out during the sunny days, avoiding sunglasses and keeping offices and homes well lit. If these fail, a psychiatrist can prescribe photo therapy (a specific type of artificial lighting), which can dramatically reverse the seasonal symptoms.

Another potent biological stressor is the increased intake of alcohol. It is common practice to give alcohol as a gift and alcohol can flow at the endless succession of holiday parties. Increased alcohol consumption may cause fatigue, weight gain and depression. If you are in a recovery program, work your program energetically during this season. For everyone else, moderation is the rule.

The most common biological stressor is the increased physical demands during the holidays. Already jam-packed daily schedules are stretched to the limit by the extra time and energy needed for shopping, partying and traveling. Try to maintain control of your schedule and get enough rest. This will probably mean saying no to some demands. If you haven't said no a few times by the end of December you're probably not protecting yourself enough.

Psychological stressors cause emotional conflict. For example, many people re-experience feelings of grief and sadness during the holidays for loved ones who are no longer with us. The holidays make us reminisce. Separation due to death, divorce or war makes us particularly sad. It is important to express feelings of grief and pain so that family and friends can offer support.

One especially potent psychological stressor is belief in the “Santa myth.” Some believe that Santa or someone else needs to give them exactly what they desire and, if not, they feel cheated and unhappy. Belief in this myth sets us up for unhappiness and creates other difficulties as well. We might use credit cards, for example, to make all of our holiday wishes come true. When the bills come due, however, stress levels may go through the ceiling. It is important to keep expectations realistic and keep in mind the true meaning of the celebration.

It might seem that significant numbers of people simply fall apart during the holiday season. This, however, is not the case. Even though people are subjected to more stress, they are helped by the “holiday spirit” or the “Christmas spirit.” This spirit of hope and peace and brotherhood provides a real sense of support.

When January arrives, however, that sense of support disappears, often leaving people depressed and anxious. It is then we see increased numbers seeking treatment. The key for avoiding January depression is to use good judgment during the holiday season.

Jon Gaudio is a cardiologist in New London. Neil Price is medical director at L&M Hospital's Counseling Center.

Depression - Six Tips for Happiness

1. Give yourself permission to be human. When we accept emotions -- such as fear, sadness, or anxiety -- as natural, we are more likely to overcome them. Rejecting our emotions, positive or negative, leads to frustration and unhappiness.

2. Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning. Whether at work or at home, the goal is to engage in activities that are both personally significant and enjoyable. When this is not feasible, make sure you have happiness boosters, moments throughout the week that provide you with both pleasure and meaning.

3. Keep in mind that happiness is mostly dependent on our state of mind, not on our status or the state of our bank account. Barring extreme circumstances, our level of well being is determined by what we choose to focus on (the full or the empty part of the glass) and by our interpretation of external events. For example, do we view failure as catastrophic, or do we see it as a learning opportunity?

4. Simplify! We are, generally, too busy, trying to squeeze in more and more activities into less and less time. Quantity influences quality, and we compromise on our happiness by trying to do too much.

5. Remember the mind-body connection. What we do -- or don't do -- with our bodies influences our mind. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy eating habits lead to both physical and mental health.

6. Express gratitude, whenever possible. We too often take our lives for granted. Learn to appreciate and savor the wonderful things in life, from people to food, from nature to a smile.

SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services

SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.

Students are flocking to Tal Ben-Shahar's class at Harvard University for some insights into the nature of happiness. So much so that Psychology 1504, or "Positive Psychology," has become the most popular course on campus. Twice a week, some 900 students attend class on what he calls "how to get happy." Mr. Shahar believes he achieved personal happiness by taking himself off the tenure track, the rational being that not having to publish makes him happy. His class offers research from the relatively new field of positive psychology, which focuses on what makes people happy, rather than just their pathologies.

What is happiness?

Happiness is a combination of meaning and pleasure. A happy life is one that has meaningful, purposeful, significant, important experiences. And it's a life that one experiences pleasure in. It's enjoying the journey and the destination.

You cite a study in "Happier" that found 50% of people were unhappy at work. Why is that?

Some haven't found the work that provides them a personal sense of purpose, significance and meaning. More importantly, though, most people fail to appreciate what they have at work. They fail to appreciate the potential for a sense of well-being that exists right in front of them.

Who is happier, the CEO or the clerk?

They're equally happy. That's the thing about happiness. It's the great equalizer between people of different socioeconomic levels, different ethnicities, different countries. The only difference in terms of happiness levels is among countries where there is no democracy, where there is oppression, where there is legalized discrimination.

Who is more responsible for an employee's happiness, himself or his boss?

Both. It's up to the boss to ask the right questions of the employee: "What would give you meaning? What are your strengths?" And cultivate those. But first and foremost it's up to the employee, and very often the employee doesn't take the responsibility. Studies have found that hospital cleaners can enjoy their work more than doctors if they perceive the meaningful part of the work and focus on it. For example, seeing their jobs not just as removing trash and washing dirty linens but contributing to patients' well-being and the smooth functioning of the hospital.

Name one thing employees can do to be happier?

Often people are asked to write a job description. I would urge people to write a calling description. Describe your work to someone who doesn't know what you're doing. What in your work is making a difference in people's lives? You can do that whether you are an investment banker or working in a homeless shelter. When you focus on that, it increases your level of well-being.

What's the relationship between money and happiness?

It's tenuous at best. Once our basic needs -- shelter, education, food -- are met, money makes very little difference to our sense of well-being. A lot of people are under the impression that money will make them happier. They are struggling for more money, a promotion, more prestige and power. The reason there are so many very unhappy, very successful people is that for their entire lives they have lived under the assumption that once they "make it," they'll be happy. Then they get there, and they realize there's no "there" there. That's when they become despondent. That's why so many celebrities are on drugs and alcohol. They've made it, they have all the men and women, and all the money they want, and yet they're unhappy. This model of once you make it, you'll be happy -- it's simply the wrong guiding principle.

There are a lot of people in the world like that. What would you advise them to do?

Happiness is mostly contingent not on our status or the state of our bank account, but our state of mind. What that means is learning to not take for granted the positive and what's working in our lives. It means expressing gratitude, and finding activities that are meaningful and pleasurable. It also means acts of kindness. The more we give, the happier we become, the happier we become, the more we give. It's an upward spiral.

Are Californians happier than New Yorkers?

There's research on this. Californians are not happier than New Yorkers, despite the weather. Why? Because we usually adapt very quickly to the external.

Is Disneyland really the "Happiest Place on Earth"?

Well, their mission statement is to make people happy. I think it's a wonderful thing. It's a happy place. The question is, how to have more happiness in our day-to-day lives, once we leave Disneyland.

Author Walter Mosley has said we should not ask: "Am I happy or unhappy?" but "How important is it to be happy?" What do you say to that?

I disagree. I think one of the most important questions to ask is: "How can I become happier?" It is a lifelong journey and it is an important journey -- as an end as well as a means. In terms of an end, it's good to feel good. It doesn't need any more justification than that. All else being equal, I'd rather be happy than unhappy. But also as a means. Happy people, all other things being equal, enjoy more physical health, and actually live longer. They are more creative, more energetic, more motivated. And they are more generous and benevolent toward other people. So there is every reason in the world to aspire to higher levels of happiness.

US Government study on depression among adults employed full-time, by occupational category

Depression can seriously impact a person's ability to perform routine activities at work. It negatively affects U.S. industry through lost productivity, employee absenteeism, and low morale.1,2 U.S. companies lose an estimated $30 to $44 billion dollars per year3,4 because of employee depression. Research shows that the rate of depression varies by occupation and industry.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) includes questions for adults aged 18 or older to assess lifetime and past year major depressive episode (MDE).5 In NSDUH, MDE is defined using the diagnostic criteria set forth in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV),6 which specifies a period of 2 weeks or longer during which there is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure and at least four other symptoms that reflect a change in functioning, including problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, and self-image.7 NSDUH also asks respondents about their current employment situation and the type of occupation and industry in which they work. NSDUH defines full-time employed respondents as those who usually work 35 or more hours per week and who worked in the past week or had a job despite not working in the past week.

This issue of The NSDUH Report uses data from the combined 2004 to 2007 surveys to present estimates of past year MDE among full-time workers aged 18 to 64 by occupational category.

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MDE, by Employment Status

Combined data from 2004 to 2007 indicate that the prevalence of past year MDE among adults aged 18 to 64 was higher among the unemployed and those of "Other" employment status than among persons employed part time or full time (Table 1). Among adults aged 18 to 64, an estimated 12.7 percent of those who were unemployed and 12.7 percent of those in the "Other" group experienced an MDE in the past year compared with 9.3 percent of those employed part time and 7.0 percent of those employed full time.

Table 1. Past Year Major Depressive Episode (MDE) among Persons Aged 18 to 64, by Employment Status: 2004-2007 Combined

Employment Status	Percent	Number in Thousands
Total	8.6	15,531
Full-Time	7.0	8,143
Part-Time	9.3	2,277
Unemployed	12.7	911
Other*	12.7	4,200

Source: SAMHSA, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 NSDUHs.

Reflecting the fact that over half of the adult population (64.3 percent) were employed full time, a majority of those who experienced an MDE in the past year also were employed full time. From 2004 to 2006, over half of all persons aged 18 to 64 who experienced a past year MDE (52.4 percent) were employed full time.

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MDE, by Occupational Category

Among the 21 major occupational categories, the highest rates of past year MDE among full-time workers aged 18 to 64 were found in the personal care and service occupations (10.8 percent) and the food preparation and serving related occupations (10.3 percent) (Figure 1). The occupational categories with the lowest rates of past year MDE were engineering, architecture, and surveying (4.3 percent); life, physical, and social science (4.4 percent); and installation, maintenance, and repair (4.4 percent).

Figure 1. Past Year Major Depressive Episode (MDE) among Full-Time Workers Aged 18 to 64, by Occupational Categories**: 2004-2007 Combined

Figure 1 Table. Past Year Major Depressive Episode (MDE) among Full-Time Workers Aged 18 to 64, by Occupational Categories**: 2004-2007 Combined

Occupational Categories	Percent
Personal Care and Service	10.8%
Food Preparation and Serving Related	10.3%
Community and Social Services	9.6%
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical	9.6%
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media	9.1%
Education, Training, and Library	8.7%
Office and Administrative Support	8.1%
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance	7.3%
Financial	6.7%
Sales and Related	6.7%
Legal	6.4%
Transportation and Material Moving	6.4%
Mathematical and Computer Scientists	6.2%
Production	5.9%
Management	5.8%
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry	5.6%
Protective Service	5.5%
Construction and Extraction	4.8%
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	4.4%
Life, Physical, and Social Science	4.4%
Engineering, Architecture, and Surveyors	4.3%

Source: SAMHSA, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 NSDUHs.

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MDE, by Demographic Characteristics and Occupational Category

Among full-time workers aged 18 to 64, females were more likely than males to have a past year MDE (10.1 vs. 4.7 percent). The highest rates of past year MDE among female full-time workers aged 18 to 64 were found in the food preparation and serving related occupations (14.8 percent) and community and social service occupations (13.3 percent) (Table 2). The highest rates of past year MDE among male full-time workers aged 18 to 64 were found in the arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations (6.7 percent). The lowest rates of past year MDE among both males and females were found in life, physical, and social science occupations (2.3 percent for males and 7.2 percent for females).

Table 2. Past Year Major Depressive Episode (MDE) among Full-time Workers Aged 18 to 64, by Demographic Characteristics and Occupational Categories**: 2004-2007 Combined

Occupational Category	Gender		Age Group
	Male	Female	18 to 25	26 to 34	35 to 49	50 to 64
Personal Care and Service	***	10.3	9.8	10.5	12.2	9.7
Food Preparation and Serving Related	5.4	14.8	11.5	9.0	11.9	5.6
Community and Social Services	4.4	13.3	10.3	15.6	7.4	8.3
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical	6.0	10.7	11.9	9.3	11.3	6.3
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media	6.7	12.5	7.5	13.5	7.2	8.0
Education, Training, and Library	6.3	9.6	8.8	8.4	11.7	5.4
Office and Administrative Support	5.2	9.3	10.9	8.9	8.2	5.9
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance	4.5	11.8	7.2	5.0	9.7	5.3
Financial	5.5	7.9	8.7	7.9	3.8	9.8
Sales and Related	4.2	10.0	10.1	9.1	5.9	3.6
Legal	4.6	8.2	***	6.0	6.3	***
Transportation and Material Moving	5.8	10.6	8.1	6.7	5.4	6.7
Mathematical and Computer Scientists	4.6	10.4	8.2	7.7	6.7	***
Production	4.9	8.5	7.3	7.4	6.0	3.7
Management	3.3	9.5	10.2	7.4	5.4	4.8
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry	5.4	***	11.0	***	2.6	***
Protective Service	3.5	***	5.7	2.1	6.5	***
Construction and Extraction	4.5	***	4.5	4.7	5.3	4.0
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair	4.3	***	5.1	3.8	6.3	***
Life, Physical, and Social Science	2.3	7.2	4.3	4.9	6.1	***
Engineering, Architecture, and Surveyors	3.3	11.1	6.9	2.5	4.5	4.6

Source: SAMHSA, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 NSDUHs.

Full-time workers aged 18 to 25 were more likely to have a past year MDE than full-time workers in all other age groups (8.9 percent for those aged 18 to 25; 7.6 percent for those aged 26 to 34; 7.2 for those aged 35 to 49; and 5.1 percent for those aged 50 to 64). Among full-time workers aged 18 to 25, the highest rates of past year MDE were found in the health care practitioners and technical occupations (11.9 percent) and the lowest in the life, physical, and social science occupations (4.3 percent).

Strategies to improve your job satisfaction

Depending on the underlying cause of your dissatisfaction, there may be several ways to increase your job satisfaction.

Set new challenges

If you're stuck in a job because of lack of education or a downturn in the economy, it doesn't mean your work has to become drudgery. With a little imagination, you can create new challenges and make the best of the job you have. Here are some ideas that may help.

• 
  
  Improve your job skills. Imagining yourself in your dream job, you might see yourself as an excellent project manager — a confident communicator and a highly organized person. Why not work on these skills in your present job?
  
  
• 
  
  Develop your own project. Take on a project that can motivate you and give you a sense of control. Start small, such as organizing a work-related celebration, before moving on to larger goals. Working on something you care about can boost your confidence.
  
  
• 
  
  Mentor a co-worker. Once you've mastered a job, you may find it becoming routine. Helping a new co-worker or an intern advance his or her skills can often restore the challenge and the satisfaction you desire.

Beat the boredom

Does your job seem boring sometimes? Do you run out of things to do? If so, your abilities may not match your responsibilities. Here are some suggestions:

• 
  
  Break up the monotony. Take advantage of your work breaks. Read. Listen to music. Go for a walk. Write a letter.
  
  
• 
  
  Cross-training. Does your work consist of repetitive tasks, such as entering data into a database or working on an assembly line? Talk with your boss about training for a different task to combat boredom. Once you've completed the training, you can switch back and forth.
  
  
• 
  
  Volunteer for something different. If you hear that your company is launching a new project, volunteer for the work team.
  
  
• 
  
  Ask for a new challenge. If you're comfortable doing so, tell your supervisor you're a little bored with what you're doing and would like a new challenge.

Keep in mind that boredom can be deadly if your job entails working with machinery or caring for people. If your mind wanders to the point that you put your life or the lives of others in jeopardy, take action. Talk to your supervisor about new challenges you can take on or seek a new position.

Stay positive

Use positive thinking to reframe your thoughts about your job. Changing your attitude about work won't necessarily happen overnight. But if you're alert to ways your view of work brings you down, you can improve your job satisfaction. Try these techniques:

• 
  
  Stop negative thoughts. Pay attention to the messages you give yourself. When you catch yourself thinking your job is terrible, stop the thought in its tracks.
  
  
• 
  
  Put things in perspective. Remember, everyone encounters good days and bad days on the job.
  
  
• 
  
  Look for the silver lining. "Reframing" can help you find the good in a bad situation. For example, you receive a less than perfect performance appraisal and your boss warns you to improve or move to another job. Instead of taking it personally or looking for another job right away, look for the silver lining. Depending on where you work, the silver lining may be attending continuing education classes, working closely with a performance coach and having the satisfaction of showing your boss you're capable of change.
  
  
• 
  
  Learn from your mistakes. Failure is one of the greatest learning tools, but many people let failure defeat them. When you make a mistake at work, learn from it and try again.
  
  
• 
  
  Be grateful. Gratitude can help you focus on what's positive about your job. Ask yourself, "What am I grateful for at work today?" If it's only that you're having lunch with a trusted co-worker, that's OK. But find at least one thing you're grateful for and savor it.

Whether your work is a job, a career or a calling, you can take steps to restore meaning to your job. Make the best of difficult work situations by being positive. Doing so will help you manage your stress and experience the rewards of your profession.

Ultra potent Human Growth Hormone real testimonial

Please send me more of the ultra potent seals. I have been applying the hgh patch on the right side of my face because the skin is just not as taught. It is under the right eye. This seems to help a lot. At first I thought it was the adhesive in the patch so I tried scotch tape but that wasn't it. it was not the same result. I wear them when I sleep. I get two days out of a patch.

Betsy N.

Gretna, NE

 

 

 

 

Estrogen and Depression

Hormonal fluctuations in both women and men account for their aberrations in their thinking, behavior, moods, and their sexuality, expressed in the symptoms of depression. The crucial question is: Given its close connection with depression, is estrogen an antidepressant? Research scientists have conducted various studies, which have indicated the impact of estrogen on the brain with respect to memory function and postmenopausal women. According to their studies, approximately 35 percent of women have mild premenstrual physical and depressive symptoms due to the rapid decline in estrogen level. Among the pathways, estrogen plays a critical role in the proper flow of blood to different parts of the brain, thereby instrumental in optimizing emotion, memory, and cognitive functions. Prior to the actual onset of menopause, estrogen level in women significantly decreases as much as 50 to 75 percent. This may explain why women not only experience depression twice as much as men do but also are two times more likely to be hospitalized in their lifetimes. This discrepancy has little to do with the fact that women seek psychiatric help more frequently than men do, or the fact that women are more stressed out than men are.

 

Following pregnancy, women also experience a drastic decline in estrogen level. Consequently, 50 to 70 percent women experience postpartum depression within the first 10 days following delivery, and approximately 10 percent may suffer a major depression. According to a study, more than 60 percent with postpartum depression may develop depression later in life. During menopause and perimenopause, women's dramatic decline in estrogen level makes them more vulnerable to extreme mood swings. Many studies attest to the close link between estrogen and mood swings.

 

An NIH (National Institutes of Health) study on the role of estrogen as an antidepressant indicated that women patients receiving high-dose estrogen experienced significant improvement in their symptoms of depression. In addition, their improvement sustained beyond the study period. Scientists have to believe that estrogen and other hormones may benefit those patients with treatment-resistant depression. The rational is based on the assumption that antidepressants may only boost the "level" of neurotransmitters but without enhancing the "quality" of those transmitters, and therefore may not be efficacious in treating some depression, especially those with low estrogen and testosterone levels.

 

Studies have also indicated that patients suffering from anxiety, another mood-related disorder attributed to peri- and postmenopausal depression. Symptoms of anxiety, such as dry mouth, waking up in the middle of the night short of breath, excessive sweating, and nausea, can be relieved with estrogen treatment.

 

Other hormones that may play havoc with depression are testosterone and the thyroid hormone. Testosterone, which is responsible for energy and sexual function in women as well, has an antidepressant effect on the brain. Therefore, a decline in testosterone may precipitate depressive episodes. Disorder in the thyroid hormone may produce paranoid delusions in patients suffering from bipolar depression.

 

 

Natural Estrogen

 

This remarkable coenzyme, which occurs naturally in younger bodies, but gradually diminishes with age, may very well be one of your best defenses against disease and aging... 

 

 

Oleoyl-estrone and body fat

Another naturally circulating hormone found in humans. First researched at the University of Barcelona it was found to induce body-fat loss while preserving protein stores. This is important because most diets that induce fat loss are also responsible for protein loss as well. The ultimate goal of any diet agent is to preserve protein. Researchers are speculating that OE does so by lowering the body's body fat set point which allows the body to maintain a reduced body fat without experiencing a hormonal response aimed at regaining lost body fat. OE is currently licensed to Manhattan Pharmaceuticals and Phase I trials were conducted in Switzerland. The results were promising. They showed OE to lead to some weight loss after just 7 days of dosing and most importantly in the treatment groups this weight loss was maintained for 3 further weeks after treatment had stopped. A Phase IIa trial of 100 patients are in motion.

Growth Hormone / 7 Keto DHEA synergy

The decline of our fundamental hormones is directly associated with certain aging signs like shrinkling of the skin, graying of the hair, decreased energy and sexual function, increased body fat, heart disease, weak and brittle bones, and much more. The good news is that DHEA and growth hormone, when properly supplemented, can significantly relieve these physical signs and restore energy levels, bone strength, hair color, more youthful appearing skin, and for most people, an increased, youthful muscle mass while simultaneously reducing body fat.  As I mentioned earlier, DHEA enhances insulin-like growth factor -1 (IGF-1) release. IGF-1 (formerly called "Somatomedin C") is the "hidden anabolic power behind the throne" of growth hormone (GH).

Human growth hormone is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. In 1985, biosynthetic human growth hormone replaced pituitary-derived (the cadavers of dead babies) human growth hormone for therapeutic use in the U.S. and elsewhere. Biosynthetic human growth hormone, also referred to as recombinant human growth hormone, somatropin and is abbreviated as rhGH.

Growth hormone can generally be described as anabolic (building up). Like most other protein hormones GH acts by interacting with a specific receptor on the surface of cells. Although height growth is the best known effect of GH, it serves many other metabolic functions as well.

GH increases calcium retention, and strengthens and increases the mineralization of bone. It increases muscle mass through the creation of new muscle cells (which differs from hypertrophy), and it also promotes lipolysis, which results in the reduction of adipose tissue (body fat). As well, it increases protein synthesis and stimulates the growth of all internal organs excluding the brain.

Deficiency of GH produces significantly different problems at various ages. In children, growth failure and short stature are the major manifestations of GH deficiency. In adults the effects of deficiency are more subtle, and may include deficiencies of strength, energy, and bone mass, as well as increased cardiovascular risk.

7 Keto DHEA

7-keto DHEA  (also called "7-oxo DHEA,)" is almost identical in structure to DHEA is a safe metabolite of DHEA that does not convert into androgens or estrogens.  It is like a predigested version of DHEA that has been cleaned up, denuded of its harmful anabolic properties. Interestingly, when applied topically to our skin, some of it is converted into 7 Keto DHEA.

7 Keto DHEA sits at the helm of the endocrine system, a platform that it shares with Growth Hormone. 7- keto DHEA increases thermogenic enzymes in the liver. It has been demonstrated to increase IL-2 production better than DHEA, in human lymphocytes.  IL-2 is the key cytokine regulator of T-helper cells. It activates the immune system to "go into battle" against invading pathogens.

In terms of fat reduction and energy: 7-keto-DHEA decreases the efficiency of energy production in the body meaning that more fats have to be burned to produce the same amount of useable energy. This results in loss of fat. To achieve this result doses of 350 to 1400 mg/day must be used. It is especially powerful when taken in conjunction with Homeopathic HGH.

Immunity: 7-keto-DHEA treatment caused an increase in anti-viral antibodies to some of the viruses however a proper dosage level has not been determined.

Hormonal effects: 7-keto-DHEA does not metabolize to estrogens or testosterone.

Safety: The only side effect (of very high doses) of this substance appears to be excess salivation in monkeys.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is one of many endocrine hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, melatonin, and DHEA, which decline in production with age. While some of these hormones can reduce the effects of aging, only HGH and IGF-1 go far beyond the scope of the other hormones to prevent biological aging and also to reverse a broad range of symptoms associated with aging and even certain diseases of aging.

 

 

DHEA / 7-keto DHEA Growth Hormone and safe synergy

Thousands of scientific articles have been published about this powerful hormone’s anti-depression, anti-obesity, anti-carcinogenic, anti-stress, immune-enhancing, anti-viral and anti-bacterial, anti-aging and anti-heart disease effects. DHEA’s reach into the human condition is so penetrating and powerful that it could easily fill books of encyclopedic proportions. Start anywhere. DHEA enhances insulin-like growth factor -1 (IGF-1) release. IGF-1 (formerly called "Somatomedin C") is the "hidden anabolic power behind the throne" of growth hormone (GH).  The now famous Morales/Yen study found that DHEA boosted a 10% rise in serum IGF-1 levels. At the same time it has shown anti cortisol effects. You will recall that cortisol is the stress hormone that causes a build up in the mid section of the body.

So, why doesn’t everyone supplement with DHEA? Too much crude DHEA significantly boosts androgen and estrogen. The androgen can potentially cause facial hair in women, acne, enlarged clitoris, abdominal fat, hyper-glycemia and insulin resistance, and breasts in men. I don't think anyone needs another reason not to take it.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ALERT Viagra, Cialis, Levitra

A small number of men have lost eyesight in one eye some time after taking Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra. This type of vision loss is called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). NAION causes a sudden loss of eyesight because blood flow is blocked to the optic nerve.

We do not know at this time if Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra causes NAION. NAION also happens in men who do not take these medicines. People who have a higher chance for NAION include those who:

• 
  
  have heart disease
  
  
• 
  
  are over 50 years old
  
  
• 
  
  have diabetes
  
  
• 
  
  have high blood pressure
  
  
• 
  
  have high cholesterol
  
  
• 
  
  smoke
  
  
• 
  
  have certain eye problems

FDA has approved new labels for Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra to include information on possible eyesight loss (NAION).

Stop using Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra if you have a loss in your eyesight. Get medical help right away.

This information reflects FDA's current analysis of data available to FDA concerning this drug. FDA intends to update this sheet when additional information or analyses become available.

What is Viagra?

Viagra is a prescription medicine taken by mouth for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. ED is a condition where the penis does not harden and expand when a man is sexually excited, or when he cannot keep an erection. Viagra may help a man with ED get and keep an erection when he is sexually excited. Viagra must be used only under a doctor's care.

Viagra does not:

• 
  
  cure ED
  
  
• 
  
  increase a man's sexual desire
  
  
• 
  
  protect a man or his partner from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Speak to your healthcare professional about ways to guard against sexually transmitted diseases.
  
  
• 
  
  serve as a male form of birth control

Viagra is only for men with ED. Viagra is not for women or children. Viagra must be used only under a healthcare professional's care.

Who Should Not Take Viagra?

Do not take Viagra if you:

• 
  
  take any medicines called "nitrates"
  
  
• 
  
  use recreational drugs called "poppers" like amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate
  
  
• 
  
  have been told by your healthcare professional to not have sexual activity because of health problems

What are The Risks?

The following are the major possible risks and side effects of Viagra therapy. This list is not complete.

Viagra can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe level if it is taken with certain other medicines such as nitrates and alpha-blockers, and recreational drugs that contain nitrates called "poppers". A sudden drop in your blood pressure could cause you to become dizzy, faint, or have a heart attack or stroke.

Tell all your healthcare professionals that you take Viagra. If you need emergency medical care for a heart problem, it will be important for your healthcare professionals to know when you last took Viagra.

Viagra may uncommonly cause:

• 
  
  an erection that won't go away (priapism)
  
  
• 
  
  vision changes, such as seeing a blue tinge to objects or having difficulty telling the difference between the colors blue and green

Some common side effects with Viagra include:

• 
  
  headache
  
  
• 
  
  flushing
  
  
• 
  
  upset stomach
  
  
• 
  
  stuffy or runny nose
  
  
• 
  
  urinary tract infection
  
  
• 
  
  diarrhea

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Professional?

Tell your healthcare professional if you:

• 
  
  have or had heart problems
  
  
• 
  
  have low blood pressure or have high blood pressure that is not controlled
  
  
• 
  
  have had a stroke
  
  
• 
  
  have liver problems
  
  
• 
  
  have ever had severe vision loss
  
  
• 
  
  have kidney problems or require dialysis
  
  
• 
  
  have retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic (runs in families) eye disease
  
  
• 
  
  have stomach ulcers
  
  
• 
  
  have a bleeding problem
  
  
• 
  
  have a deformed penis shape or Peyronie's disease
  
  
• 
  
  have had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours
  
  
• 
  
  have blood cell problems such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia
  
  
• 
  
  are taking a medicine called a protease inhibitor for the treatment of HIV
  
  
• 
  
  are taking medicines called alpha blockers (alpha blockers are sometimes prescribed for prostate problems or high blood pressure)

Can Other Medicines or Food Affect Viagra?

Viagra and certain other medicines can interact with each other. Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show your healthcare professional.

Date created: July 8, 2005, updated October 2, 2007

Thyroid eye disease: an unusual presentation British Journal of Ophthalmology J Shankar,1 C P Noonan,2 P Mathew,2 and S Hanif2 1Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool L7 8XP, UK 2Warrington General Hospital, Warrington, UK Correspondence to: Jai Shankar, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool L7 8XP, UK;
Accepted December 9, 2002. Keywords: Viagra, proptosis, sildenafil, thyroid.

Viagra (Sildenafil) is an oral preparation for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction. Although the drug is marketed solely for its therapeutic purposes, it has high potential for abuse owing to its ability to intensify and prolong erectile response. We describe here an ocular side effect following its use as a recreational drug, which led to the diagnosis of thyroid eye disease.

Side Effects Of Cialis?

The most common side effects found in the clinical trial of Cialis were headache, muscle pain( myalgia ), upset stomach ( dyspepsia ) and back pain. Lower doses produced correspondingly reduced side effects.

Who should Not Take Cialis?

Cialis® is only for patients with ED. Cialis® is not for newborns, children, or women. Do not let anyone else take your Cialis® . Cialis® must be used only under a health care providers supervision. Before you start any treatment of Cialis®, be sure to ask your Health Care Provider if your heart is healthy enough. If youre a man who uses nitrate drugs, like nitroglycerine, never take Cialis®. The combination of Cialis® and nitrates can make your blood pressure suddenly drop to unsafe levels. You could get dizzy, faint, or even have a heart attack or stroke. Nitrates are found in many prescription medications that are used to treat angina (chest pain due to heart disease) such as: Nitroglycerin (sprays, ointments, skin patches or pastes, and tablets that are swallowed or dissolved in the mouth) Isosorbide mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate (tablets that are swallowed, chewed, or dissolved in the mouth) Nitrates are also found in recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite ("poppers"). If you are not sure if any of your medications contain nitrates, or if you do not understand what nitrates are, ask your health care provider or pharmacist.

---

Case report

A 30 year old white man was referred to the eye clinic, with a history of waking up one morning with a left proptosis, having had no ocular signs or symptoms the previous day. The patient did not have any subjective symptoms of pain, redness, change in visual acuity, double vision, or of hearing any sounds. There was no history of direct or indirect trauma. He gave a history of having acquired a tablet of Viagra from a friend at a Christmas party. He ingested half and gave half to his partner. The exact dosage strength was unknown. His partner noticed increased visibility of the white of the eye under the left upper lid. He was otherwise healthy and was taking no medication.

Visual acuity was 6/5 unaided in each eye. Ocular examination showed a 3 mm axial non-pulsatile left proptosis. He was orthophoric and ocular movements were unrestricted. Anterior segment examination showed generalised conjunctival engorgement on both sides, more on the left than the right. Pupils were normally reacting and fundus examination was unremarkable. Intraocular pressure was normal with no significant difference between straight gaze and up gaze. Auscultation over the globe revealed no bruit.

The clinical findings along with the acute onset history led us to suspect superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis as a possible cause. An magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was ordered with a specific request to comment on the calibre of the superior ophthalmic veins. The MRI scans showed normal superior ophthalmic veins bilaterally but thickening of all extraocular muscles, particularly the inferior recti on both sides. The inferior rectus was intensely white on T2 weighted scans. Biochemical tests for thyroid function showed him to have high T3 and T4 levels and very low TSH levels.

Comment

Sildenafil citrate has been in use since early 1998 for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction. It is a selective cyclic guanosine monophosphate dependent phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. It potentiates the smooth muscle relaxant effect of nitric oxide and leads to engorgement of the sinusoids of the corpus cavernosa with a resultant penile erection. At the time of orgasm, emission, and ejaculation sympathomimetic substances-adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine)-are released with consequent sinusoidal smooth muscle contraction and rapid loss of penile rigidity.

As with any new drug, clinical information and known side effects with regard to sildenafil are limited. Ocular side effects are few. Although sildenafil was developed as a selective PDE5 inhibitor, it has about 10% effect against PDE6-an enzyme localised in retinal photoreceptors. This results in various visual symptoms like a blue tinge to vision, impaired colour vision, increased light sensitivity, and blurred vision. Symptoms are transient and occur between 2-4 hours after ingestion. Results of ocular electrophysiological tests have been variable.^2,3 A recent study showed no effect of sildenafil on mean blood pressure, intraocular pressure, perfusion pressure, or choroidal and optic nerve head blood flow,⁴ but there have been isolated reports of anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy,⁵ vascular third nerve palsy,⁶ and retinal vascular occlusions.

Lid retraction following ingestion of Viagra has not been reported before. We believe that the release of sympathomimetic substances may have produced a supranormal response in the form of noticeable lid retraction in a sensitised individual with thyroid dysfunction. We speculate, based on the close temporal relation between ingestion of this recreational drug and the presentation to our department, that Viagra therapy was responsible for the unmasking of latent thyroid eye disease in a sensitised individual.

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It also comes in bottles.

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Idebenone – The ultimate anti-aging drug? - Powerfull brain anti-oxidant

Idebenone (pronounced eye deb e known) is a synthetic analog (variant) of one of life's most essential biochemicals, coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10). Co Q10 is an important antioxidant component of the lipid (fatty) membranes that surround all cells, as well as the lipid membranes surrounding the various organelles ("little organs"), such as mitochondria and microsomes, inside cells.

Co Q10 is also an important member of the "Electron Transport Chain" (ETC) within mitochondria, which are the "power plants" of the cell. Most of the oxygen we breathe is used inside the electron transport chain to produce much of the ATP bioenergy that powers virtually every activity of our cells and bodies.

Co Q10’s pro-oxidant action 

When blood flow is seriously reduced to any part of the body, as in a heart attack, stroke, trauma, shock, or chronic poor blood circulation- cellular/ mitochondrial oxygen (O2) levels quickly drop in the affected region. Yet because oxygen is seven to eight times more soluble in the lipid zones of cell membrane, compared to the watery compartments of the cell, there is still sufficient oxygen remaining in the membranes of cells and organelles, as well as in the electron transport chain, to auto-oxidize Co Q10.  As the Co Q10 auto-oxidizes, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide and hydroxl free radicals are rapidly formed in massive numbers. These free radicals quickly damage cell/ organelle structure and function, as well as rapidly halt ATP energy generation by the electron transport chain.

Brain and spinal cord cells are especially prone to such damage, and may be irreparably damaged or even destroyed within minutes.

Why Idebenone is superior to Co Q10

Enter Idebenone to the rescue! Studies have shown that under the same cellular low oxygen conditions that cause Co Q10 to act as a pro-oxidant producer of damaging free radicals, Idebenone prevents the free radical dam-age and maintains relatively normal cell ATP levels. In short, while Idebenone can effectively substitute for Co Q10's positive and life essential functions, it doesn't have Co Q10's free radical producing and energy crashing "dark side" which occurs under hypoxic (low oxygen) conditions.

Idebenone's potential benefits fall into five categories; antiaging, energy enhancement, cognition enhancement, organ protector and protector against excitatory amino acid neurotoxicity.

Idebenone – The anti-aging benefits

The mitochondrial power plants produce over 90% of all cellular ATP bioenergy. They are also generally the richest sites in Co Q10 (or Idebenone). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) allows mitochondria to reproduce them-selves.

While the DNA in a cell nucleus comes from both our parents, mtDNA comes exclusively from our mother's mtDNA.

There are typically two or three copies of mtDNA in each mitochondrion, with average 1000 mitochondria per cell. Because mtDNA exists in the "heart of the fiery furnace" where electron "sparks" are constantly leaking as ATP is produced in the electron transport chain, mtDNA is far more prone to free radical electron damage than is the DNA in our cell nuclei that contains the "blueprint" for our entire organism.

At the same time, the repair capacity of mtDNA is much less than that of our cell nucleus DNA.  As a consequence, over the course of a lifetime our mtDNA becomes ever more damaged, and the mitochondria produced therefrom become ever more ineffective at energy generation.

Studies comparing heart tissue from young people with that from elderly people have shown almost no significant mitochondrial dysfunction in young hearts, with significant, often severe mitochondrial dysfunction in elderly hearts.

The cells that are most susceptible to mitochondrial energy depletion with advancing age are the brain, skeletal muscle and heart muscle cells. Idebenone thus offers a prime anti-aging effect here in several ways.  Unlike Co Q10, even under the low oxygen conditions that may occur periodically over a lifetime, Idebenone will serve as a powerful mitochondrial free radical quencher, lessening the ever-increasing mtDNA damage that occurs with age. Idebenone will work even better than Co Q10 within the electron transport chain to keep energy production high, even under hypoxic conditions. This is especially critical to brain and heart cells that may be rapidly damaged during low ATP production episodes that occur due to poor tissue oxygenation.

Idebenone – Energy enhancement

Iron is a "dual edged sword." It is absolutely essential for life, it plays a central role in ATP generation in the electron transport chain.  Yet iron can also be a powerful initiator of free radical production and cell structural damage, especially under low oxygen conditions.

This occurs, for example, during stroke, and during the gradual onset of Parkinson's disease. Studies have shown that Idebenone can tightly couple oxidation to energy production. This prevents iron ions from wastefully and toxically, diverting oxygen to producing free radicals inside the mitochondria, instead of energy.

Studies have shown that Idebenone can almost completely eliminate this, diverting 10% of cellular oxygen away from toxic iron induced free radical generation, to beneficial ATP energy production under hypoxic conditions.

Mild cellular hypoxia can occur even from intense exercise, or even from mild exercise done by out of shape "couch potatoes."

Idebenone – Cognition enhancement

A variety of studies using brain cells, (animal and humans) have shown Idebenone's ability to enhance brain structure and function.

Human and animal studies have demonstrated that Idebenone can enhance serotonin production, even under far less than optimal conditions, as e.g. with a very low tryptophan diet, or in patients with cerebrovascular dementia.

Idebenone has enhanced cholinergic nerve function and consequent learning ability even under hypoxic conditions, or when an anti-cholinergic drug (Scopolamine) was administered.

Idebenone has increased cellular catecholamine (dopamine, adrenalin and noradrenanlin) production by enhancing cellular uptake of the precursor amino-acid tyrosine.

Idebenone enhances long term potentiation in hippocampal nerve cells, a key part of memory formation and consolidation. Idebenone has restored glucose (brain fuel) utilization and ATP production in ischemic (poor blood flow) rat-brain.

Idebenone has been shown to enhance general cerebral metabolism, lessen the damage from strokes, and has been used to treat Alzheimer's and other dementias.

And like the original nootropic drug; piracetam, Idebenone has been shown to promote information transfer across the corpus callosum, the membrane separating the right and left brain hemispheres.

This is turn may promote the union/ integration of the logical (yang) and intuitive (yin) halves of the brain/ mind.

Idebenone – Organ protector

As our organs age or are damaged, we age and are damaged. Over a lifetime, blood flow to our organs diminishes due to arteriosclerosis and less efficient heart pumping. This reduces oxygen dependent energy production needed for repair, reproduction and normal function of the organ cells. Free radical damage accumulates over time, leaving ever more dead, dying or dysfunctional cells within organs.

At some point a critical threshold is reached when too many cells within an organ are dysfunctional, and they can no longer sustain the organ's life and function. Then the organ- heart, brain, liver etc. fails.

Idebenone protects organs in many ways, it cushions them against hypoxic (low oxygen) and/ or ischemic (poor blood flow) damage. Idebenone enhances both normal and hypoxic ATP energy generation.

Each cell in our organs must produce the energy it needs for life and health, cells cannot "borrow" energy from each other.

Idebenone – The free radical quencher

Idebenone is a powerful antioxidant, more so than Co Q10, and in some studies is 30 to 100 times more effective, than vitamin E or vinpocetine as a free radical quencher within the brain cells.

Idebenone lessens the free radical induced mtDNA damage that accumulates acceleratingly over a lifetime, slowing organ damage and aging.

A 1995 study in the Journal of Transplantation compared the organ preserving effects of Co Q10 and Idebenone. The study measured various factors, such as free radical membrane lipid damage, cell protein damage and cellular energy production under hypoxia conditions.

The results showed Idebenone to be dramatically more effective than Co Q10 at preserving liver tissue under conditions identical to that endured by whole livers "harvested" and stored (briefly) before transplant to another person.

The study recommended using Idebenone to increase the transplant viability of human livers donated for organ transplant. Why not use Idebenone to increase your own organ viability, while you still have the use of them!

Protection against excitatory amino acid (EAA) neuro toxicity

Glutamic acid and aspartic acid are the two chief excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters in the human brain. Without them we would be "mental vegetables."

Yet under certain conditions, e.g. stroke or traumatic brain injury- excessive amounts of excitatory amino acids accumulate in the fluid surrounding brain cells, causing damage and even death to nerve and glial cells through free radical mechanisms.

Excitatory amino acid toxicity is at least partly responsible for the neurotoxicity of the recreational drug "Ecstasy or MDMA." Studies over the past 30 years have also shown that excessive dietary intake of excitatory amino acids may also damage brain structure/ function, especially in children or excitatory amino acid sensitive adults.

The two main dietary sources of excitatory amino acids are the flavor enhancer MSG (monosodium glutamate) and the artificial sweetener aspartame (Nutrasweet). Also many processed foods (e.g. canned soups, dry roasted spiced peanuts, beef/ chicken bouillon, canned tuna, spices etc.) contain "hydrolized vegetable protein, yeast extract, soy protein isolate" and similar ingredients that are mostly excitatory amino acids.

In studies with various types of nerve cell, as well as oligodendroglial cells (which make up the protective myelin sheaths surrounding many nerves, the so-called "white matter" of the brain). Idebenone has shown dramatic protective effects against glutamate toxicity.

So who can benefit from Idebenone? The answers are,

1. Healthy people wishing cognitive enhancement and brain energizer effects (it synergizes well with piracetam, vinpocetine and Hydergine). 2 or 3 tablets (45mg each) daily.

2. Stroke victims wishing to improve memory, emotional or speech disturbances. 3 to 6 tablets (45mg each) daily.

3. Alzheimer's and cerebrovascular dementia patients. 4 to 6 tablets (45mg each) daily.

4. Those preparing for major surgery, especially brain, heart, liver or kidney. Synergizes well with Hydergine. 4 to 6 tablets (45mg each).

5. People with heart energetics problems, e.g. cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure. 3 to 6 tablets (45mg each) daily.

6. People with myelination problems, e.g. multiple sclerosis or "white matter" stroke injury. 3 to 6 tablets (45mg each) daily.

7. Those seeking to increase their general energy and vitality levels. 2 to 3 tablets (45mg each) daily.

8. People with especially high endurance energy needs, e.g. cross country skiers, long distance runners, cyclists, swimmers etc. 3 to 4 tablets (45mg each) daily.

9. Those at risk of excitatory amino acid brain damage, e.g. people who routinely consume large amounts of aspartame sweetened foods/ drinks, or those who routinely eat MSG or "hydrolyzed vegetable protein" containing restaurant or prepared foods. 2 or 3 tablets (45mg each) daily.

10. People wishing to enhance the brain serotonin benefits of tryptophan or 5-hydroxy-tryptophan supplements or SSRI drugs, such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, or Luvox etc. 2 to 4 tablets (45mg each) daily.

11. Those suffering acute or chronic liver damage from poison mushrooms, toxic chemicals, hepatitis etc. 2 to 4 tablets (45mg each) daily.

Numerous studies have shown that idebenone is well distributed through-out the body after absorption, accumulating in cellular and organelle membranes, as well as in the electron transport chain, exactly where it does the most good!