US Marines posed with Nazi symbol in Afghanistan

US Marines posed with Nazi symbol in Afghanistan - The Marine Corps on Thursday once again did damage control after a photograph surfaced of a sniper team in Afghanistan posing in front of a flag with a logo resembling that of the notorious Nazi SS — a special unit that murdered millions of Jews, gypsies and others.

The Corps said in a statement that using the symbol was not acceptable, but the Marines in the photograph taken in September 2010 will not be disciplined because investigators determined it was a naïve mistake.

knightarmco.com - This Sept. 2010 photo posted recently on the Titiusville, Fla.- based arms manufacturer Knight's Armament's Internet blog, shows members of Charlie Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif. in Sangin, Helmand province, Afghanistan. The Marine Corps confirmed Thursday Feb. 8, 2012 that one of its scout sniper teams in Afghanistan posed for a photograph in front of a flag with a logo resembling that of the notorious Nazi SS. (AP Photo/knightarmco.com)

The Marines believed the SS symbol was meant to represent sniper scouts and never intended to be associated with a racist organization, said Maj. Gabrielle Chapin, a spokeswoman at Camp Pendleton, where the Marines were based.

"I don't believe that the Marines involved would have ever used any type of symbol associated the Nazi Germany military criminal organization that committed mass atrocities in WWII," Chapin said. "It's not within who we are as Marines."

The Corps has used the incident as a training tool to talk to troops about what symbols are acceptable after it became aware of the photograph last November, Chapin said.

The image has since surfaced on an Internet blog, sparking widespread outrage and calls for a full investigation and punishment, including bringing those in the photograph and anyone who condoned it to court martial.

"This is a complete and total outrage," said Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, headquartered in Albuquerque, N.M.

His organization sent a letter to the head of the Marine Corps, Gen. James Amos, and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday, demanding punishment for those involved.

It was the second time this year the Marine Corps has had to do damage control for actions of its troops. It's also investigating a separate group of Marines recorded on video urinating on the dead bodies of Taliban fighters..

"First we have Marines peeing on dead bodies and now this," Weinstein said.

The Marines in the photograph are no longer with the unit. Chapin said she did not know if they are still in the Corps.

In the photo taken in the Afghanistan town of Sangin, the Marine Corps unit is posing with guns in front of an American flag and a large, dark blue flag with what appear to be the letters "SS" in the shape of white jagged lightning bolts.

Camp Pendleton spokesman, Master Gunnery Sgt. Mark Oliva, said he did not know where the flag came from but it was likely the property of one of the Marines in the photograph.

The photograph appeared on the blog for a military weapons company called Knight's Armament in Titusville, Fla. The company did not respond to emails or phone messages left by The Associated Press.

The SS, or Schutzstaffel, was the police and military force of the Nazi Party, which was distinct from the general army. Members pledged an oath of loyalty to Adolph Hitler.

SS units were held responsible for many war crimes and played an integral role in the extermination of millions of Jews along with gypsies and other people who were deemed undesirable. The SS was declared to be a criminal organization at the Nuremberg war crime trials.

Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, headquartered in Los Angeles, said he does not buy the explanation that posing with the flag was an innocent mistake and insisted the American public has a right to know what happened.

"If you look at any book on the Nazi period, this is the dreaded symbol of the SS, and to have a Marine Corps unit adopt it and put it beside the American flag when 200,000 Americans died to free the world of that dreaded symbol is just beyond the pale," he said. ( Associated Press )

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Idea men feel more pain 'a myth'

Idea men feel more pain 'a myth' - New research casts doubt on the idea that women can cope better with pain than men.

In fact, women appear to be more sensitive to pain for illnesses such as neck pain and sinusitis, according to a study of 72,000 US patients.

Doctors should pay more attention to how pain differs between men and women, says a Stanford University team.

Hormones, genes or psychological factors could explain the differences, they report in the Journal of Pain.

Men had lower pain scores for sinusitis

Researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine, California, analysed pain scores recorded in the medical records of more than 72,000 patients.

In what they believe to be the largest study of its kind, they found differences in the levels of pain reported by men and women for certain disorders, including back conditions, sinusitis and hernias.

“Start Quote

Maybe because men are supposed to be 'strong and silent' they are underestimating their pain because they don't want to admit to it”

Peter Baker Men's Health Forum

The team, led by Dr Atul Butte, reported in The Journal of Pain: "Our data support the idea that sex differences exist, and they indicate that clinicians should pay increased attention to this idea."

They say more research is needed into why men and women seem to experience pain differently.

Past studies have found that hormones may influence sensitivity to pain, including the stage of the menstrual cycle.

Commenting on the research, Peter Baker, Chief Executive of the Men's Health Forum, said: "Maybe because men are supposed to be 'strong and silent' they are underestimating their pain because they don't want to admit to it.

"Men can underplay their symptoms, they don't like to make a fuss, which is one of the reasons why men often don't want to seek help." ( bbc.co.uk )

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Study shows memory loss can start as early as 45

Study shows memory loss can start as early as 45 - Loss of memory and other brain function can start as early as age 45, posing a big challenge to scientists looking for new ways to stave off dementia, researchers said Thursday.

The finding from a 10-year study of more than 7,000 British government workers contradicts previous notions that cognitive decline does not begin before 60 years of age, and it could have far-reaching implications for dementia research.

Pinpointing the age at which memory, reasoning and comprehension skills start to deteriorate is important because drugs are most likely to work if given when people first start to experience mental impairment.

A handful of novel medicines for Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, are currently in clinical trials, but expectations are low and some experts fear the new drugs are being tested in patients who may be too old to show a benefit.

The research team led by Archana Singh-Manoux from the Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health in France and University College London found a modest decline in mental reasoning in men and women aged 45-49 years.

"We were expecting to see no decline, based on past research," Singh-Manoux said in a telephone interview.

Among older subjects in the study, the average decline in cognitive function was greater, but there was a wide variation at all ages, with a third of individuals aged 45-70 showing no deterioration over the period.

"It doesn't suddenly happen when you get old. That variability exists much earlier on," Singh-Manoux said. "The next step is going to be to tease that apart and look for links to risk factors."

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Participants were assessed three times during the study, using tests for memory, vocabulary, and aural and visual comprehension skills.

Over the 10-year period, there was a 3.6 percent decline in mental reasoning in both men and women aged 45-49 at the start of the study, while the decline for men aged 65-70 was 9.6 percent and 7.4 percent for women.

Since the youngest individuals at the start of the study were 45, it is possible that the decline in cognition might have commenced even earlier.

Singh-Manoux said the results may also have underestimated the cognitive decline in the broader population, since the office workers in the study enjoyed a relatively privileged and healthy lifestyle.

Factors affecting cardiovascular function -- such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking -- are believed to impact the development of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia through effects on brain blood vessels and brain cells.

The research findings were published in the British Medical Journal, alongside an editorial by Francine Grodstein of the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, who described the results as convincing.

Most research into dementia has focused on people aged 65 and over. In future, scientists will need to devise long-term clinical studies that include much younger age groups and may have to enroll tens of thousands of participants, she said.

One way to deal with this "major challenge" might be to use computerised cognitive assessment tests, rather than face-to-face interviews, although more research is still needed on this approach, she added. ( Reuters )

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Mental Decline Can Start at 45

Mental Decline Can Start at 45 -- Sorry, Boomers, but a new study suggests that memory, reasoning and comprehension can start to slip as early as age 45.

This finding runs counter to conventional wisdom that mental decline doesn't begin before 60, the researchers added.

"Cognitive function in normal, healthy adults begins to decline earlier than previously thought," said study author Archana Singh-Manoux.

"It is widely believed that cognitive ability does not decline before the age of 60. We were able to show robust cognitive decline even in individuals aged 45 to 49 years," added Singh-Manoux, research director at INSERM's Center for Research in Epidemiology & Population Health at the Paul-Brousse Hospital in Paris.

These findings should be put in context of the link between cognitive function and the dementia, Singh-Manoux said.

"Previous research shows small differences in cognitive performance in earlier life to predict larger differences in risk of dementia in later life," she said.

Understanding cognitive aging might enable early identification of those at risk for dementia, Singh-Manoux said.

The report was published in the Jan. 5 issue of BMJ.

For the study, Singh-Manoux and colleagues collected data on nearly 5,200 men and 2,200 women who took part in the Whitehall II cohort study. The study, which began in 1985, followed British civil servants from the age of 45 to 70.

Over 10 years, starting in 1997, the participants' cognitive function was tested three times. The researchers assessed memory, vocabulary, hearing and vision.

Singh-Manoux's group found that over time, test scores for memory, reasoning and vocabulary skills all dropped. The decline was faster among the older participants, they added.

Among men aged 45 to 49, reasoning skills declined by nearly 4 percent, and for those aged 65 to 70 those skills dropped by about nearly 10 percent.

For women, the decline in reasoning approached 5 percent for those aged 45 to 49 and about 7 percent for those 65 to 70, the researchers found.

"Greater awareness of the fact that our cognitive status is not intact until deep old age might lead individuals to make changes in their lifestyle and improve [their] cardiovascular health, to reduce risk of adverse cognitive outcomes in old age," Singh-Manoux said.

Research shows that "what is good for the heart is good for the head," which makes living a healthy lifestyle a part of slowing cognitive decline, she said.

Targeting patients who have risk factors for heart disease such as obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol might not only protect their hearts but also prevent dementia in old age, the researchers said.

"Understanding cognitive aging will be one of the challenges of this century," especially as people are living longer, they added.

In addition, knowing when cognitive decline is likely to start can help in treatment, because the earlier treatment starts the more likely it is to be effective, the researchers noted.

Francine Grodstein, an associate professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and author of an accompanying editorial, said more research is needed into how to prevent early cognitive decline.

"If cognitive decline may start at younger ages, then efforts to prevent cognitive decline may need to start at younger ages," she said.

"New research should focus on understanding what factors may contribute to cognitive decline in younger persons," Grodstein added.

"This is consistent with what we have seen in other studies and the cognitive changes that occur as we age," said Heather M. Snyder, senior associate director of medical & scientific relations at the Alzheimer's Association.

These changes do not mean that all these people will go on to develop Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, Snyder noted. "It is important to remember that the cognitive changes associated with aging are very different from the cognitive changes that are associated with Alzheimer's disease," she stressed.

Although some of these people may go on to develop Alzheimer's disease there is currently no way to tell who is at risk, Snyder said. "This is why it is so important to continue to investigate biological changes that occur in the earliest stages, because it is difficult to [determine] the cognitive changes that are associated with Alzheimer's disease," she said.

Snyder noted that Alzheimer's disease can start 15 to 20 years before symptoms are apparent, which makes finding a biological marker so important. "If a therapeutic is available, we can intervene at that point," she said. (HealthDay News)

READ MORE - Mental Decline Can Start at 45

Top 10 Ways to Project Positivity

Top 10 Ways to Project Positivity - Why? Because the more positive you seem, the more success will come.

It’s a fact of life: Colleagues, friends and women will consistently gravitate toward positive people.

Consequently, if you want to get ahead in life, you have to find ways to project positivity. At work, you want to be the kind of guy who posits solutions, not the kind of guy who predicts problems. In the dating game, you want to be the fun guy, the happy guy, the calm, cool and hilarious guy. Brooding only works for vampires.

Look, we understand that not everything is sunshine and cupcakes. Sometimes things suck. You’ll encounter bad ideas and annoying people. You’ll have bad days. We’re not talking about ignoring the bad things in life. We’re simply suggesting you try to focus on the good things. We maintain that you’re almost always better off emphasizing the positive than dwelling on the negative. If you agree, check out our top 10 ways to project positivity.

1. Exercise

Working out is the first tip on our list of the top 10 ways to project positivity. Exercise has numerous benefits. First of all, you’ll look better. If you’re fit and healthy, you have an edge on the competition at work and on the dating scene. Plus, working out just makes you feel good and new research shows that it allows you to better handle stressful situations. Lastly, you’ll have more energy to attack each day and each night out.

2. Groom

Grooming is another must on our list of the top 10 ways to project positivity. A poor appearance and an abundance of grooming mistakes can be off-putting. When you don’t take care of your skin, your hair and your smell, people notice -- in a bad way. So clean yourself up. Looking put-together inspires others to have confidence in you. People are more likely to take to you if you don’t look like a caveman with greasy hair.

3. Avoid Depressing Topics and Personal Issues

When talking to someone, you should systematically avoid depressing topics and uncomfortable personal issues. Consistently try to steer conversation toward happy subject matter. Don’t be the guy around the office who always wants to talk about the war effort or the economy. Likewise, when you first meet a woman, don’t talk about serial killers, tsunamis or your mother’s battle with diabetes. Some subjects are just too serious for introductory conversations.

4. Don't Slouch

Some of our top 10 ways to project positivity are verbal, some are intellectual and others are just physical. For instance, standing up straight is a great way to project positivity. The guy who slouches appears beaten and subdued, and you’re not that guy. So, keep posture on the brain with shoulders back and chin up.

5. Say 'Yes'

Perhaps the best way to project positivity is to simply say “yes.” Habituate yourself to positivity by responding in the affirmative more often. Whether it’s a request to take on extra responsibility at work or a playful dare from a group of attractive women, try to say “yes” as often as humanly possible. Eventually, your positive attitude will become second nature.

6. Don't Complain

Complainers are downers, pure and simple. When talking to people, especially a prospective love interest, don’t bitch and whine. Don’t talk about the things that make you mad. Don’t sulk; it makes you look like you're in a rut.

7. Laugh

You might think it’s difficult to make yourself laugh, but that’s not entirely true. The key is to maintain a certain state of mind. When you’re in a good mood, you’ll be more willing to tell jokes and laugh at other people’s jokes. You’ll trade barbs, tease your friends and colleagues, and generally keep everyone in a good mood. Ready yourself for laughter by taking a minute to enjoy your favorite things. Read your favorite blog every morning or check out the most hilarious viral video you can find. They’ll prepare you for an upbeat day.

8. Be curious and Engaged

Dismissive and disinterested people do not project positivity. Even though it might be difficult at times, try to remain curious and engaged as much as possible. You might start by simply asking more questions than you usually do. Even when someone says something you don’t immediately find interesting, ask a follow-up question. They’ll appreciate the attention.

9. Be Solution-Oriented

Whenever you encounter an idea you don’t like or a lukewarm response from a group of attractive women, your first instinct should be to find a solution. How can you make that bad idea better? How can you make the flawed strategy more effective? How can you improve your rate of success with women? If your first impulse is to solve problems, rather than to dwell on them, you’ll go far.

10. Smile

Smiling is perhaps the simplest way to project positivity. Think about it: You smile when you’re happy, but with a little work, you can train yourself to feel happy when you smile as well. A smile shows people you’re engaged, enthusiastic and open. Smiling is also contagious. When you smile at others, they’ll find it awfully hard not to respond in kind. ( foxnews.com )

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It's Time to Start Thinking Positively

It's Time to Start Thinking Positively - It feels like the world is in a collective funk right now. A few years after the financial crisis began, we're still mired in a slow global economy. There is gridlock in the U.S. government. Politicians spend more time explaining why their opponents are wrong than they do trying to fix things. Even the sports news is filled with stories of drug use and sexual abuse.

What do we do?

At this point, we might want to take some advice from Monty Python and "look on the bright side."

Seriously.

The human mind is capable of getting into a vicious circle when times are bad. Classic research by Gordon Bower has demonstrated that memory depends on your mood. When you are happy, you are generally reminded of happy things and happy times. When you are sad, you are reminded of sad things and sad times. Further work by Ian Gotlib and his colleagues shows that these memories feed back to further influence your mood state. That is, when you're in a bad mood, you remember sad things. Those sad memories keep you sad.

But wait, it gets worse. Many things in life can be viewed either positively or negatively. A person who speaks up and gives his opinion can either be assertive (a positive characteristic) or aggressive (a negative one). Work by Tory Higgins shows that your mood also affects how you deal with this kind of ambiguity. When you are sad or angry, you will interpret the things going on around you more negatively.

And one more. When you are focused on the negative side of things, you often focus on rejecting options rather than selecting them. Witness what is happening with the GOP primaries now. Republican voters are focused on eliminating candidates rather than finding ones they like. Research by Eldar Shafir shows that when people are trying to reject options, they weigh the negative information about the options more heavily than the positive information.

Getting out of this funk, then, requires a bit of work. We all need to make a conscious effort to focus on the positive aspects of life and the glimmers of hope. You may have to do that with small things at first. During the holiday season, enjoy your time with family. Spend some time with children and see the world through their eyes. Listen to some upbeat happy music. Go out with friends.
And at the same time, try to focus your conversations about the world on positive things. Right now, it is too easy to slip into complaints about the government, the economy, and the prospects for world peace. When you find yourself in yet another discussion about the ills of the world, look for a positive spin. The more that you train yourself to focus on the good things in life, the more that you will see the hope in every situation. ( huffingtonpost.com )

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Too little exercise, too much TV tied to depression

Too little exercise, too much TV tied to depression - Older women who got more exercise and less television time were the least likely to be diagnosed with depression, according to a US study of thousands of women — with physical activity having the biggest impact.

According to findings published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers found that women who reported exercising the most in recent years were about 20 percent less likely to get depression than those who rarely exercised.

On the other hand, the more hours they spent watching TV each week, the more their risk of depression crept up.

“Higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower depression risk,” wrote study author Michel Lucas, from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

Students attend a physical exercise class on the roof of a branch of Lingzhi primary school in Wuhan, Hubei province, on Monday. A recent study says even the elderly need more exercise to prevent depression. (Reuters)

More time spent being active might boost self-esteem and women’s sense of control, as well as the endorphins in their blood, although the study could not prove directly that watching too much television and avoiding exercise caused depression, she added.

The report included close to 50,000 women who filled out surveys every couple of years as part of the US Nurses’ Health Study, and covered the years 1992 to 2006. Participants recorded the amount of time they spent watching TV each week in 1992, and also answered questions about how often they walked, biked, ran and swam between 1992 and 2000.

On the same questionnaires, women reported any new diagnosis of clinical depression or medication taken to treat depression.

The analysis only included women who did not have depression in 1996. Over the next decade, there were 6,500 new cases of depression.

After the researchers accounted for aspects of health and lifestyle linked to depression, including weight, smoking and a range of diseases, exercising the most — 90 minutes or more each day — meant women were 20 percent less likely to be diagnosed with depression than those who exercised 10 minutes or less a day.

Women who watched three hours or more of television a day were 13 percent more likely to be diagnosed with depression than those who hardly ever tuned in, but Lucas said at least part of that link might be due to women replacing time they could be exercising with TV watching.

One alternative explanation the researchers brought up is that women might have been experiencing some symptoms of depression before they were diagnosed, leading them to exercise less. A formal diagnosis could have come later.

“Previous studies have suggested that physical activity is associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms,” said Gillian Mead, who studies geriatric medicine at Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary but was not involved in the study.

“(The finding) adds to the growing body of evidence that physical activity is important to maintain brain health,” she added. ( arabnews.com )

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They upped my dose but I wanted to die

They upped my dose but I wanted to die - One in three GPs have admitted handing out anti-depressants as a "quick fix" because waiting lists for support services are too long.

The research by Aviva UK Health also found 41 per cent of doctors feel there should be less reliance on drugs to treat depression.

Dr Doug Wright, head of clinical development at Aviva, said: "Anti-depressants are incredibly effective and a brilliant treatment for depression. But there are alternatives.

"What GPs are telling us is that they are struggling to access other services."

Here, two women who have been prescribed anti-depressants tell LYNSEY HAYWOOD their experiences.

Lorraine Waters

Lorraine Waters ... 'getting prescribed anti-depressants was easy'

MUM-OF-FOUR Lorraine Waters, 37, from Bootle, Liverpool, has been on and off anti-depressants for six years.

She says: "I split up with my husband in 2005 and everything felt like it was wrong. I just couldn't function as a person or as a mum. I stopped going out, I couldn't get up in the morning, I couldn't take my kids to school.

"Everywhere I looked there were black clouds and although I was in a terrible state I refused any help. It was my mum who booked me an appointment with my GP and dragged me there.

"She and my younger sister Danielle had used anti-depressants in the past and could see what was happening, even if I couldn't. The doctor confirmed I was suffering from severe depression and wrote me a prescription for Prozac.

"I was told it would take about a month for them to work, but I felt a real difference in just 6-8 hours – but that turned into a roller-coaster. The first week I was emotional and teary, the second week I felt almost suicidal. By the third I was on top of the world.

"For the first time in months I could get myself out of bed, I was chatty, meeting up with friends and back to my old self. I was happier than I'd been for years. I didn't care that it had taken medication to get me there. I felt not taking them would have been selfish to my children.

"I did have some side-effects, including itchy skin, light headedness and bad sweats. And I was increasingly concerned I'd be on them for life.

"So after a year, without telling my GP I cut my dosage in half for a few weeks and then I dropped them altogether.

"Coming off them gave me withdrawal symptoms, like mild insomnia and the shakes, but that was only temporary – and I knew I didn't need them to make me happy any more.

"I was fine for three years but then I hit another bad period. Getting prescribed anti-depressants again was so easy, but this time I said I didn't want the same side-effects so was put on sertraline, which does the same job without the negatives.

"I do feel dependent on them now which I know isn't a good thing but I've weaned myself off them in the past and will do again when the time is right. Taking anti-depressants is nothing to be ashamed of and I couldn't have coped without them."

Mandie Holgate

I'm in control of my life' ... Mandie Holgate found cognitive behavioural therapy worked to ease her depression

MANDIE Holgate, 37, from Colchester, Essex, started taking anti-depressants after the birth of her second child.

She says: "From the outside, no one would have realised anything was wrong. I had everything – good looks, a nice house, two beautiful kids and a loving marriage. Inside I was a complete wreck. I didn't want to live any more.

"After the birth of Sophie, my second child, in 2004, I was diagnosed with severe clinical depression. My doctor prescribed me anti-depressants but these made me feel worse.

"Instead of feeling elated at having a newborn baby, I felt a constant sense of grief and sadness – like a horrible black blanket had enveloped me. But it was something I didn't want to admit it when my life was so 'great'.

"Every week the doctors upped my dose of anti-depressants but this only worsened my mood. I thought the only way out would be to kill myself.

"I tried taking an overdose of pills but both times I woke up again. After a year, I saw a counsellor and started cognitive behavioural therapy. I had reflexology and was able to come off the pills.

"My recovery wasn't easy but I took each day as it came and accepted I had an illness and stopped feeling ashamed.

"I started to believe in myself and decided to train as a life coach, to help other people through similar situations. I've been free of anti-depressants for five years. I'm in control of my life – the sadness in my eyes has been replaced with a sparkle of real happiness." ( thesun.co.uk )

Alternative treatments

EXERCISE: Just 25 minutes a day can help beat depression, according to psychologists in Dallas, Texas.

ST JOHN'S WORT: A herbal remedy that German scientists believe is more effective than Prozac.

B12 VITAMIN: Studies have found a link between B12 deficiency and depression. Take a supplement or meat, fish and cheese are B12-rich.

LIGHT THERAPY: Used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder.

MEDITATION: Can relieve depression, anxiety and stress.

ACUPUNCTURE: Ancient remedy where tiny needles are inserted into the body to treat anxiety.

READ MORE - They upped my dose but I wanted to die

Happiness reduces risk of early death

Happiness reduces risk of early death - Scientists at London's University College this week claimed keeping cheerful could reduce your risk of an early death by 35 per cent - And in new book Spontaneous Happiness Andrew Weil says certain lifestyle choices can help us all maintain a happy existence.

Here are his top ways to keep the blues at bay and a smile on your face.

Be happy ... laughing is a mood booster

Turn off TV

TODAY, argues Weil, many of us are choking on "data smog" – a dense cloud of trivial, irrelevant or otherwise low-value information made possible by the internet and television.

The result is fractured attention spans and weak human relationships.

Monitor the time you spend watching TV, surfing the net and texting in a given week. Then cut it by at least 25 per cent the following week.

Use the time for outings in nature, exercise or face-to-face communication with friends.

If you like the result, keep restricting virtual-life "surfing" and expanding real-life human experiences.

Laugh

SMILING and laughing are potent mood boosters. One way to quickly inspire laughter is via laughter yoga.

Begun by physician Dr Madan Kataria from India, the first "social laughter club" was in March 1995 with a handful of people.

Now there are more than six thousand clubs in 60 different countries. The method used in laughter clubs is straightforward.

After brief physical and breathing exercise, people simulate laughter with vigorous "ha-ha" and "ho-ho"-ing. In the group setting, this fake laughter soon becomes real, contagious and may continue for a half hour or more.

Regular participation has been shown to improve health in a variety of ways, including a lowering of levels of stress hormone, cortisol.

Gratitude

JUST like forgiveness, gratitude can help lift a low mood. One powerful method is keeping a "gratitude journal". Spending a specific time each day or week recording things for which one is grateful can boost happiness levels in as little as three weeks.

A less formal practice – one that Weil follows – is to devote a few moments of meditation every morning to silently give thanks for all of the good things in life.

As a result of doing this for several years, Weil says he found himself often making mental notes throughout the day of blessings such as flowers opening in the garden, or a glorious sunset.

Of all of the practices listed in this article, Weil believes that learning to feel and express gratitude may be the most important in achieving and maintaining a happy life.

Fish oil

ADEQUATE levels of these nutrients in the bloodstream have been strongly tied to emotional health.

They are really necessary and deficiencies are so common in the developed world, that I believe everyone, depressed or not, should take them on a regular basis.

Take a quality, molecularly-distilled fish oil supplement daily – look for one that provides EPA and DHA – both omega fatty acids.

Weil also recommends taking 2,000IU of vitamin D daily.

Anti-inflammatory diet

INFLAMMATION in the body can be normal but it has destructive potential. We see it when the immune system mistakenly attacks normal tissues in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

Inappropriate inflammation may also underlie depression.

Weil's anti-inflammatory diet consists of whole, unprocessed foods selected to reduce inflammation and provide vitamins.

It consists of fruit and veg, fatty cold-water fish, healthy whole grains and olive oil.

Exercise

HUMAN bodies are designed for physical activity. The sedentary nature of modern life probably plays a significant role in today's high levels of depression. Many patients who stick to exercise regimes improve as much as those treated with medication.

Many exercise forms – aerobic, yoga, weights, walking and more – have been shown to benefit mood. Typical programmes last eight to 14 weeks. You should have three to four sessions a week, of at least 20 minutes each. For treatment of depression or anxiety disorders, activities of moderate intensity such as brisk walking are more successful than anything too vigorous. Weuk is a fan of integrative exercise, such as gardening, or cycling to work.

Most people find it easier to stick to activities like this than to lift weights or run on a treadmill.

Forgiveness

FORGIVENESS is often quoted as being a key to happiness and modern research confirms this long-held belief.

It seems like common sense that those who can quickly and easily forgive enjoy better emotional health – but researchers just wanted to check.

Conversely, resentment feeds depression and can spiral into a self-reinforcing low mood.

Fortunately, the ability to forgive can be cultivated.

Controlled breaths

CONSCIOUS breath control is a tool for achieving a clear state of mind.

Try the 4-7-8 (or relaxing) breath. Sit with your back straight. Place tip of tongue against ridge of tissue just behind upper front teeth and keep it there through the entire exercise.

You will be exhaling through your mouth around your tongue – try pursing your lips slightly if this seems awkward. Then exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound.

Close mouth, inhale quietly through nose to a mental count of four. Hold breath for a seven count.

Exhale completely via mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight. This is one breath.

Inhale again and repeat three more times for a total of four breaths. This exercise is a natural tranquilliser for the nervous system. ( thesun.co.uk )

READ MORE - Happiness reduces risk of early death

Dads' Depression Linked to Kids' Behavior Problems

Dads' Depression Linked to Kids' Behavior Problems - Depression in fathers is strongly linked to behavioral problems in their children, a new study suggests.

While 6 percent of children with non-depressed parents had behavior problems, 11 percent of children with a depressed father did, according to the study.

"There are countless articles on the effect of depression and other mental health problems in mothers on children, but this is virtually the first paper that we are aware of that has looked at similar effects in fathers," said study author Dr. Michael Weitzman, of New York University School of Medicine.

To be sure, the researchers also found that 20 percent of children with a depressed mother had behavior problems, and the number rose 25 percent if both parents were depressed.

"Despite all the progress in the past generation, and facilitating women's presence in the workplace… we find no attention to similar efforts to enhance the effects of fathers in raising their children," Weitzman said. "I think that depression is one of the greatest and least addressed public health problems in the nation, if not the world."

The study was published online today (Nov. 7) in the journal Pediatrics.

A growing problem

Weitzman said that in the coming years, world events could lead to an increased rate of depression among adults, and a corresponding problem for the next generation.

"The recession, unemployment, returning veterans," may all affect adults mental health, and therefore affect children," Weitzman told MyHealthNewsDaily.

The researchers examined data on 22,000 children living in two-parent households (biological, adoptive and step parents were all included). The data were collected during the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a government study conducted from 2004 to 2008 in which trained interviewers visited homes and asked an adult about the health of the household.

It's unclear exactly how depression in parents and behavior issues in children interrelate, and the study was not designed to tell if the two have a cause-and-effect relationship.

And children's behavior problems can cause stress, and affect the mindset of the parents.

"Psychology recognized years ago that you really need to have the arrow going in both directions," said Sherryl Hope Goodman, a professor of psychology at Emory University.

Treat the parent, help the child

While the study sheds light on what might be a neglected area of therapy, it had some limitations, Goodman said. The study did not connect specific behavior problems in children with depression in fathers, she said, and there may have been some reporting bias on the part of parents.

In 2002, Goodman reviewed existing research that compared psychological issues in mothers to those of fathers, in terms of the effects on children.

"The bottom line conclusion — I strongly agree. We need to be concerned with children whose fathers are depressed, [although] there's less concern than if the mother is depressed," Goodman said.

"The importance of [the study], to me, is what it says to clinicians who are treating adults. It's important, whether it's the mother or the father, to consider the impact of the parent's challenges on the development of the child," said Raymond Firth, policy initiatives director for the University of Pittsburgh's office of child development.

Still, Firth cautioned: "This study doesn't mean all children with fathers with mental health problems are going to have problems themselves. Far from the truth."

Another important issue, he said, becomes whether insurance companies would recognize depression as a risk factor for the rest of the family.

"The insurance company needs to see the work of that therapist as prevention for the children, and to think about it from a preventive perspective rather than waiting for the child to present with an emotional problem," Firth said. ( LiveScience.com )

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Teen Depression : Symptoms and Tips for Parents

Teen Depression : Symptoms and Tips for Parents - Could your teen be depressed? Although we are learning more about depression, it’s hard to know if a teen is depressed. This is especially true when irritability and moodiness often co-exist with most normal teens.

What is teen depression?

Depression is a medical condition that causes psychological and physical symptoms. Depression can happen at any age, including the teen years.

About 1 in 5 teens suffers with depression. But 70% of depressed teens do not get the right treatment. When teen depression goes untreated, the outcome may be serious, and result in:

• Poor performance at school
• Troubled relationships
• Increased rates of substance abuse
• Risky sexual behavior
• Increased rates of physical illness
• Increased rates of suicide attempts and completions

What are the symptoms of teen depression?

The most common symptom of depression is sadness for no apparent reason most of time. Yet teens with depression may have signs of extreme irritability, anger, or anxiety instead.

Depressed teens often have physical complaints, such as stomachaches or headaches. These symptoms may cause absences from school or poor school performance.

Teens with depression may have changes in sleep habits with unexplained crying. They may become extremely sensitive to rejection or failure. Other symptoms may include:

• Feeling helpless
• Anger
• Withdrawal from activities
• Avoidance of peers
• Apathy
• Low self-esteem
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Changes in eating habits
• Slow or rapid movement
• Weight gain or loss
• Substance abuse
• Difficulty with authority
• Suicidal thoughts or actions

How is teen depression diagnosed?

A depression diagnosis is based on the symptoms and the duration of symptoms. Also, the doctor will consider how the symptoms impact the teen’s behavior and life.
How is teen depression treated?

Teen depression is a treatable medical problem. Combination treatment is most effective and may include:

• Depression medications to relieve symptoms; and
• Talk therapy or counseling to help teens learn new coping skills.

Medications usually include antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. SSRIs that have been studied for teen depression include:

• fluoxetine (Prozac)
• sertraline (Zoloft)
• paroxetine (Paxil)
• citalopram (Celexa)
• escitalopram (Lexapro)
• fluvoxamine (Luvox)

Prozac is the only SSRI approved by the FDA for use in children ages 8 and older with major depression. Still, doctors often prescribe other SSRIs and atypical antidepressants on an off-label basis.

Talk therapy may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). With CBT, professionals help teens learn how to change destructive patterns of thinking.

One study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that teaching positive thinking may prevent depression in at-risk teens. Researchers found that teens can learn skills to keep negative thoughts from escalating into depression.

If a teen has severe depression, the doctor may admit the teen to a hospital for observation and treatment.

Can teen depression lead to suicide?

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for teens and young adults. In the U.S., there are about 5,000 suicides each year between the ages of 10-24.

When depression goes untreated, teens may think suicide is the only answer. Feelings of hopelessness may lead to impulsive but deadly acts.
Are there warning signs of teen suicide?

Four out of 5 teens who attempt suicide give clear-cut signs. Here are warning signs every parent must know:

• Obsessing about death
• Open suicide threats
• Writing poems or drawing about death
• A change in appearance or mood
• Defiant behavior
• Acting violently
• Feelings of guilt
• A change in sleep or eating habits
• Giving away belongings
• Staying away from people and activities.

If your teen hints of suicide, seek help immediately. Never hesitate to call a suicide hotline or go to the ER.

You can call 800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433) or 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) to speak with a qualified professional.

With proper treatment and support, teens who consider suicide can get well and return to a healthy life.

Are there tips for parents of teens with depression?

Parenting a teen with depression is not easy. These tips may help:

Seek proper treatment.
If your teen has emotions that seem abnormal, talk to your doctor. When teen depression goes undiagnosed and untreated, the teen may try to ease the feelings with drugs, alcohol, or suicide.

Get involved in family therapy.
Family therapy can help the teen and family to understand depression. Therapy can help members learn coping skills to handle any moods or behaviors linked to depression.

Listen to your teen.
Avoid offering advice. Instead, listen and try to uncover problems that may be upsetting your teen.

Make sure your teen has consistent bedtimes.
A study from Columbia University Medical Center showed teens with earlier bedtimes get more sleep and have fewer cases of depression and thoughts of suicide. Teens should get around nine hours of sleep every night, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

Be aware of the FDA warning that antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in teens with depression. Children and teens who are started on antidepressant should be monitored for these behaviors. Talk with your health care provider about any concerns you may have. ( webmd.com )

READ MORE - Teen Depression : Symptoms and Tips for Parents

Depression in Women - ( 2 )

What is the impact of depression on pregnancy?

The potential impact of depression on a pregnancy includes the following:

• Depression can interfere with a woman's ability to care for herself during pregnancy. She may be less able to follow medical recommendations and to sleep and eat properly.
• Depression can cause a woman to use substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and/or illegal drugs, which could harm the baby.
• Depression can make bonding with the baby difficult.

Pregnancy may have the following impact on depression in women:

• The stresses of pregnancy can cause depression or a recurrence or worsening of depression symptoms.
• Depression during pregnancy can increase the risk for having depression after delivery (called postpartum depression).

What are my options if I'm depressed during pregnancy?

Preparing for a new baby is lots of hard work. But your health should come first. Resist the urge to get everything done, cut down on your chores, and do things that will help you relax. In addition, talking about things that concern you is very important. Talk to your friends, your partner, and your family. If you ask for support, you will find you often get it.

If you're feeling down and anxious, consider seeking therapy. Ask your doctor or midwife for a referral to a mental health care professional.

How is depression in women treated during pregnancy?

Growing evidence suggests that many of the currently available antidepressant medicines are safe for treating depression during pregnancy, at least in terms of the potential short-term effects on the baby. Long-term effects continue to be studied. Risks can differ depending on medication. Untreated depression can put both mother and infant at risk. You should discuss the possible risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor.

How is postpartum depression in women treated?

Postpartum depression, or depression following childbirth, can be treated like other forms of depression. That means using medicines and/or psychotherapy. If a woman is breastfeeding, the decision to take an antidepressant must be made with her doctor after a discussion of risks and benefits. According to the NIH, problems to nursing infants from mothers taking antidepressants are few.

Does the prevalence of depression in women increase at midlife?

Perimenopause is the stage of a woman's reproductive life that begins eight to 10 years before menopause. In the last one to two years of perimenopause, the decrease in estrogen accelerates. At this stage, many women experience menopausal symptoms.

Menopause is the period of time when a woman stops having her monthly period and experiences symptoms related to the lack of estrogen production. By definition, a woman is in menopause after her periods have stopped for one year. Menopause typically occurs in a woman's late 40s to early 50s. However, women who have their ovaries surgically removed undergo "sudden" menopause.

The drop in estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause triggers physical and emotional changes -- such as depression or anxiety. Like at any other point in a woman's life, there is a relationship between hormone levels and physical and emotional symptoms. Some physical changes include irregular or skipped periods, heavier or lighter periods, and hot flashes.

How can I cope with symptoms of menopause?

There are many ways you can ease menopause symptoms and maintain your health. These tips include ways to cope with mood swings, fears, and depression:

• Eat healthfully and exercise regularly.
• Engage in a creative outlet or hobby that fosters a sense of achievement.
• Find a self-calming skill to practice -- such as yoga, meditation, or slow, deep breathing.
• Keep your bedroom cool to prevent night sweats and disturbed sleep.
• Seek emotional support from friends, family members, or a professional counselor when needed.
• Stay connected with your family and community and nurture your friendships.
• Take medicines, vitamins, and minerals as prescribed by your doctor.
• Take steps such as wearing loose clothing to stay cool during hot flashes.

How is depression in women treated?

There are a variety of methods used to treat depression, including medications such as antidepressants and psychotherapy. Antidepressants carry a boxed warning about the increased risk of suicidal thinking or suicidal behavior by children, adolescents, and young adults taking tham. All people taking antidepressants should be closely monitored. Changes such as worsening depression, suicidal thinking or behavior, agitation, sleep problems, or withdrawal from normal social activity should be reported to your health care provider.

Family therapy may be helpful if family stress adds to your depression. Your mental health care provider will determine the best course of treatment for you. If you are uncertain who to call for help with depression, check out the following list from the National Institute of Mental Health:

• community mental health centers
• employee assistance programs
• family doctors
• family service/social agencies
• health maintenance organizations
• hospital psychiatry departments and outpatient clinics
• local medical and/or psychiatric societies
• mental health specialists such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, or mental health counselors
• private clinics and facilities
• state hospital outpatient clinics
• university or medical school affiliated programs ( webmd.com )

READ MORE - Depression in Women - ( 2 )

Depression in Women - ( 1 )

Depression in Women ( 1 ) - Here are the facts about depression in women. In the U.S. about 15 million people experience depression each year. The majority of them are women. Unfortunately, nearly two-thirds do not get the help they need.

Depression in women is very common. In fact, women are twice as likely to develop clinical depression as men. Up to one in four women is likely to have an episode of major depression at some point in life.

What is depression?

Depression is a serious and pervasive mood disorder. It causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness. Depression can be mild to moderate with symptoms of apathy, little appetite, difficulty sleeping, low self-esteem, and low-grade fatigue. Or it can be more severe.

What are the symptoms of depression in women?

Symptoms of depression in women include:

• persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
• loss of interest or pleasure in activities, including sex
• restlessness, irritability, or excessive crying
• feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, pessimism
• sleeping too much or too little, early-morning awakening
• appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
• decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down"
• thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
• difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

What are the symptoms of mania in women?

Mania is a highly elevated mood that can occur with bipolar disorder. Moods in bipolar disorder swing from the lows of depression to the highs of mania. Even though mania is an elevated mood, it is serious and needs medical assessment and treatment.

The symptoms of mania include:

• abnormally elevated mood
• irritability
• decreased need for sleep
• grandiose ideas
• greatly increased talking
• racing thoughts
• increased activity, including sexual activity
• markedly increased energy
• poor judgment that can lead to risk-taking behavior
• inappropriate social behavior

Why is depression in women more common than depression in men?

Before adolescence, the rate of depression is about the same in girls and boys. However, with the onset of puberty, a girl's risk of developing depression increases dramatically to twice that of boys.

Experts believe that the increased chance of depression in women may be related to changes in hormone levels that occur throughout a woman's life. These changes are evident during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause as well as after giving birth or experiencing a miscarriage. In addition, the hormone fluctuations that occur with each month's menstrual cycle probably contribute to premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD -- a severe syndrome marked especially by depression, anxiety, and mood swings that occurs the week before menstruation and interferes with normal functioning of daily life.

What increases the chances of depression in women?

According to the National Institutes of Health, factors that increase the risk of depression in women include reproductive, genetic, or other biological factors; interpersonal factors; and certain psychological and personality characteristics. In addition, women juggling work with raising kids and women who are single parents suffer more stress that may trigger symptoms of depression. Other factors that could increase risk include:

• family history of mood disorders
• history of mood disorders in early reproductive years
• loss of a parent before age 10
• loss of social support system or the threat of such a loss
• ongoing psychological and social stress, such as loss of a job, relationship stress, separation or divorce
• physical or sexual abuse as a child
• use of certain medications

Women can also get postpartum depression after the birth of a baby. Some people get seasonal affective disorder in the winter. Depression is one part of bipolar disorder.

Can depression in women run in families?

Yes. Depression can run in families. When it does, it generally starts between the ages of 15 and 30. A family link to depression is much more common in women.

How does depression in women differ from depression in men?

Depression in women differs from depression in men in several ways:

• Depression in women may occur earlier, last longer, be more likely to reoccur, be more likely to be associated with stressful life events, and be more sensitive to seasonal changes.
• Women are more likely to experience guilty feelings and attempt suicide, although they actually commit suicide less often than men.
• Depression in women is more likely to be associated with anxiety disorders, especially panic and phobic symptoms, and eating disorders.
• Depressed women are less likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs.

How are PMS and PMDD related to depression in women?

As many as three out of every four menstruating women experience premenstrual syndrome or PMS. PMS is a disorder characterized by emotional and physical symptoms that fluctuate in intensity from one menstrual cycle to the next. Women in their 20s or 30s are usually affected.

About 3% to 5% of menstruating women experience premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD. PMDD is a severe form of PMS, marked by highly emotional and physical symptoms that usually become more severe seven to 10 days before the onset of menstruation.

In the last decade, these conditions have become recognized as important causes of discomfort and behavioral change in women. While the precise link between PMS, PMDD, and depression is still unclear, chemical changes in the brain and fluctuating hormone levels are both thought to be contributing factors.

How are PMS and PMDD treated?

Many women who suffer with depression along with PMS or PMDD find improvement through exercise or meditation. For individuals with severe symptoms, medicine, individual or group psychotherapy, or stress management may be helpful.
Does depression in women occur during pregnancy?

Pregnancy has long been viewed as a period of well-being that protected women against psychiatric disorders. But depression in women occurs almost as commonly in pregnant women as it does in those who are not pregnant. The factors which increase the risk of depression in women during pregnancy are:

• having a history of depression or PMDD
• age at time of pregnancy -- the younger you are, the higher the risk
• living alone
• limited social support
• marital conflict
• uncertainty about the pregnancy ( webmd.com )

READ MORE - Depression in Women - ( 1 )

Depression in Men

Depression in Men - While clinical depression was once considered a "woman's disease," more than 6 million men in the U.S. have depression each year. Unfortunately, the lingering image of depression as a female condition may keep men who are clinically depressed from recognizing the symptoms of depression and seeking treatment.

Depression actually affects both sexes. It disrupts relationships and interferes with work and daily activities. The symptoms of depression in men are similar to the symptoms of depression in women. But men tend to express those symptoms differently. Common symptoms of depression include loss of interest in usually pleasurable activities, fatigue, changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, and apathy. In women, depression may be more likely to cause feelings of sadness and worthlessness. Depression in men, on the other hand, may be more likely to cause them to be irritable, aggressive, or hostile.

Why is depression in men commonly not recognized?

There are several reasons why the symptoms of clinical depression in men are not commonly recognized. For example, men tend to deny having problems because they are supposed to "be strong." And American culture suggests that expressing emotion is largely a feminine trait. As a result, men who are depressed are more likely to talk about the physical symptoms of their depression -- such as feeling tired --- rather than symptoms related to emotions.
Does depression in men affect sexual desire and performance?

Yes. Depression in men can affect sexual desire and performance. Unfortunately, some antidepressants and other medications can do the same. Men often are unwilling to admit to problems with their sexuality. Many mistakenly feel that the problems are related to their manhood, when, in fact, they are caused by a medical problem such as clinical depression.
What are some observable symptoms of depression in men?

Men are less likely to show more "typical" signs of depression such as sadness. Depression in men may cause them to keep their feelings hidden. Instead of expressing a depressed mood, they may seem more irritable and aggressive.

For these reasons, many men -- as well as doctors and other health care professionals -- may fail to recognize the problem as depression.

What are the consequences of untreated depression in men?

Depression in men can have devastating consequences. The CDC reports that men in the U.S. are about four times more likely than women to commit suicide. A staggering 75% to 80% of all people who commit suicide in the U.S. are men. Though more women attempt suicide, more men are successful at actually ending their lives. This may be due to the fact that men tend to use more lethal methods of committing suicide, for example using a gun rather than taking an overdose of pills.

Why is depression in men so hard to accept?

Understanding how men in our society are brought up to behave is particularly important in identifying and treating their depression. Depression in men often can be traced to cultural expectations. Men are supposed to be successful. They should rein in their emotions. They must be in control. These cultural expectations can mask some of the true symptoms of depression. Instead, men may express aggression and anger -- seen as more acceptable "tough guy" behavior.

Is a stigma attached to depression in men?

Yes. And men generally have a hard time dealing with the stigma of depression. They are more likely to deal with their symptoms with by drinking alcohol or abusing drugs, and/or pursue other risky behavior. Many men avoid talking about depressed feelings to friends or family.
Is depression common in elderly men?

Although depression is not a normal part of aging, senior men may have medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, or other stressors that may contribute to depression. For example, there is the loss of income and meaningful work. Retirement is difficult for many men because they end up with no routine or set schedule to follow. These changes may increase the stress they feel, and a loss of self-esteem may contribute to depression. In addition, the death of family and friends, the onset of other health problems, and some medications can contribute to depression in men.

How is depression in men treated?

More than 80% of people with depression -- both men and women -- can be treated successfully with antidepressant medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. If you are uncertain about whom to call for help with depression, check out the following list from the National Institute of Mental Health:

• community mental health centers
• employee assistance programs
• family doctors
• family service/social agencies
• health maintenance organizations
• hospital psychiatry departments and outpatient clinics
• local medical and/or psychiatric societies
• mental health specialists such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, or mental health counselors
• private clinics and facilities
• state hospital outpatient clinics
• university or medical school affiliated programs ( webmd.com )

READ MORE - Depression in Men