Ripples Of Improvement

Maintaining Healthy Relationships

Aug 302011

Human companionship is important, and so are human relationships. We go through our lives building different types of relationships with everyone we meet. Some relationships may not be deep rooted – like those we form with work mates and other people that we are not really close to. But if we are lucky, we get to form everlasting good relationships with friends and family. Sadly though, this is not always the case since sometimes our relationships just do not work. There are various reasons that may contribute to this, but mostly, it is because we take our relationships for granted and do not take time to maintain them.

There are many basic ways to maintaining relationships whether they are with your lover, family or friends; but the most important of them is communication. A lot of relationship fails because of the lack of communication. Sometimes, we just forget to let people know that we love and care for them. We can get very busy at times that we don’t get to stop and appreciate what we have.

Emotions Revealed, Second Edition: Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life

While most people would argue that actions speak louder than words, the truth is that both are equally important. Words without action are meaningless. Actions without words can be overlooked and taken for granted. While it would be nice to show someone that you care by doing things for them, sometimes this can go unnoticed and overlooked. It would be nice to actually hear people say that they love you and have them show it to you at the same time.

In relationships, conflicts are unavoidable and are in fact, inevitable. We just won’t agree with each other all the time. Nevertheless, this doesn’t make our relationship is flawed. Actually, sometimes conflicts can be good since they bring issues into the open so that they can be dealt with and solved. We can always work things out by communicating with each other to find out what is wrong and how it can be fixed. Many times compromise is necessary from both sides, but this can be hard, especially during an intense argument. So, instead of participating in a shout-fest, try to talk things over first. After all, you cannot douse fire with fire. When you feel offended or hurt, let the other person know instead of keeping them and letting all of them pile up. This can be unhealthy and toxic for you since you would be bringing this baggage all the time and it would result to unresolved conflict that would always come up in every argument. So speak and let the other know what you are feeling and experiencing, then work out a solution that would work best for both of you.

If we just learn to communicate better and take time to listen to what the other says, our relationships might actually last longer and become happier. This would result in less conflict and more understanding of what we want and need.

Written by Steve who, besides offering his insight into relationships, is the online expert on refrigerators and freezers.

Bipolar Depression Symptoms: Signs You Should Watch Out For Before They Get Too Bad

Depression No Responses »

Aug 292011

As mentioned in What Is Manic Depression? It’s Not Like The Movies Say It Is, Bipolar Disorder comes in many different forms, and while the general symptoms are the same, the severity varies from person to person. Not everyone has the same symptoms, or has all the symptoms.

However, this is a difficult disease to live with, and can affect those around the person with it. Therefore, it is important to get help if these, or similar symptoms are experienced.

The Manic Episodes

What sets Bipolar Depression apart from Unipolar Depression, or a disease that only shows depression symptoms, is the experience of mania as well. This mania can be very pronounced, or more subtle, known as hypomania.

Mania is an increased mood, beyond what would be recognized as normal happiness. The person may even appear so happy as to be euphoric. This would be recognizable to someone else as abnormal, or over the top.

Mania can show increased energy, that also comes with a decreased need for sleep. People experiencing a manic episode will sleep much less than others, sometimes as little as 3 or 4 hours a night, yet not seem to suffer for it. In extreme cases, they may not sleep for days at a time.

The person may have grandiose ideas or even feel that they are chosen for a special mission. They are delusional and show obvious signs of racing thoughts. Their attention span may very limited and they can be easily distracted.

Some may also be extremely anxious and irritable, and may strike out with increased rage.

Those having a manic episode may indulge in other abnormal, seemingly over the top, behavior. They may go on lavish spending sprees, make unwise business decisions, or have an increased sex drive and seek out multiple partners. They may engage in substance abuse from alcohol and sleeping pills, or harder drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine. In fact, those suffering from a manic episode may be mistaken for being on drugs, even if they have not taken any substances.

The farther into a manic episode the person is, the less likely they are to want treatment and may neglect to take prescribed medication. They may greatly enjoy the feeling of mania and feel that those around them want to stifle them or bring them down. Especially if they have progressed to the point of psychosis where they have hallucinations or delusions of grandeur, they will be especially hard to get into treatment.

They may be more talkative than usual and feel that they need to keep talking; what is known as pressured speech.

They may also have what is known as psychomotor agitation, or an increase in action of movement that appears erratic and unnecessary. It may be pacing, wringing the hands, or taking clothes on and off. In severe cases, it may extend to self harming actions such as chewing or tearing at the cuticles to the point of bleeding. This arises from the anxiety symptoms a person may feel and again, can look like the person is reacting to substance abuse.

Some know that they are having a manic episode and can control it, but enjoy the feeling of happiness and creativity. This may be especially true for those with hypomania.

Hypomania

Hypomania is “below mania”, showing symptoms higher than what would be considered normal, but not severe as is the case with full mania. It may only appear as normal happiness, but upon closer look would be seen as a more elevated mood than is really normal, or mild euphoria.

Like full mania, hypomania can result in a decreased need for sleep with an increase in energy.

Mania can contribute to creativity. However, unlike with someone having a full manic episode, the creativity can be channeled and doesn’t result in impairment of functioning. In fact, they can find themselves much more productive than usual. Many with creative talents recognize they have hypomanic episodes and attribute their successful works to these episodes.

Hypomania doesn’t have the delusions of grandeur, or the psychosis, that may be associated with full mania. In hypomania, these symptoms appear as a drive to succeed, and increased competitiveness. They may have a flood of ideas, which will fall short of obsessive racing thoughts.

Hypomania may be easy to miss, whereas full mania is generally unmistakable. As with Unipolar depression, Bipolar disorder can start as early as the teen years, when it may not be recognized as Bipolar, or thought to just be the normal mood fluctuations of teenagehood.

However, almost always, mania or hypomania occur after a long depressive episode, so if depression is suspected, a sudden change in mood may not actually indicate a reversal of depression symptoms.

Those suffering from Bipolar disorder also sometimes have what are called mixed episodes.

The Mixed Episodes

In the case of a mixed episode, the person experiences symptoms of both depression and mania. Rather than a separate disorder, these episodes occur as part of the mood changes of depression and mania in Bipolar disorder.

During a mixed episode, the person may feel like a failure at the same time they have grandiose ideas. They may have fits of crying and have increased irriatibilty.

Mixed episodes are especially dangerous as a person with high energy but decreased mood is more likely to turn to substance abuse or suicide.

The Depressive Episodes

While many times the depression of Bipolar disorder is seen as the same type of depression as Unipolar depression, there are differences. Although the DSM IV, the bible of mental disease, doesn’t distinguish between the two, those with Bipolar depression are more likely to suffer severe depression than those with Unipolar depression.

Bipolar depression also differs from Unipolar depression in the self reported difficulty functioning. Those with Bipolar depression reported more difficulty functioning, had more problems with doing work well and finding it interesting. They have more problems with relationships and have more arguments and feel upset more of the time. They are more likely to be ashamed of themselves and more likely to commit suicide. They also report feeling depression symptoms on more days than those with Unipolar depression.

Bipolar depression may also cause the person to want to sleep, or to overeat more often than those with Unipolar depression. While those with Unipolar depression may feel sluggish and slowed down, with slower speech, this can be more pronounced or more likely in Bipolar depression. This can lead to impairment in typical activities, especially ones that involve thinking, such as making decisions or making a list.

Those with Bipolar depression may not cry as much as those with Unipolar depression, but they may have stronger feelings of guilt and low self worth. These feelings cause those with Bipolar depression to feel pleasure less often than those with Unipolar depression.

While Bipolar depression hasn’t be studied as extensively as separate from Unipolar depression, there is good reason to feel that they are distinct manifestations.

photo credit: sydney g

Often, the treatments for Unipolar depression, such as anti-depressants, don’t work with Bipolar depression, and may make it worse. In some instances, anti-depressants may bring on a manic episode in someone with Bipolar depression.

Given the differences in Unipolar Depression versus Bipolar Depression, it is important for doctors to accurately diagnose and treat the disease. Especially in those with hypomanic episodes that may not be recognized as an instance of mania, and therefore part of Bipolar disorder.

If you feel that you have any symptoms that could be indicative of manic or hypomanic episodes in addition to depression, you should bring that to the attention of your doctor. They aren’t with you all the time and they need to know everything that could help you with your treatment. Even if it seems unimportant, it may be a vital clue to your doctor.

Mental illness is not fun by any means, but it is treatable, and there are other people suffering with mental illness, even if you feel alone. And for those on the ouside of the illness, family, friends, and others, it can be very hard to understand and help. But, if you hang in there and keep looking until you find the right doctor, you life will change and you will most likely feel dramatically different – but in a good way.

If you have any questions or comments, please leave me a comment below.

What Is Manic Depression? It’s Not Like The Movies Say It Is

Depression No Responses »

Aug 282011

This article discusses the various forms of Bipolar disorder. For information on specific symptoms of Bipolar disorder, please check out: Bipolar Depression Symptoms: Signs You Should Watch Out For Before They Get Too Bad.

The term manic depression is an older term that has been replaced by Bipolar disorder or simply Bipolar. It refers to the cycling between periods of depression and periods of high mood, known as mania.

On TV and in the movies, Bipolar disorder is shown as extreme, with those suffering from a manic episode going out and doing life endangering activities, leaving their families for weeks, and living in a total dreamworld, out of touch with reality.

While the basic concepts are the same, the reality of Bipolar isn’t so clear cut. Bipolar is diagnosed when an individual does have periods of an elevated mood, higher than you would see in normal happiness. The other side of Bipolar is depression. The cycling is random and can be very sudden. However, there are some individuals who won’t seem to be acting manic except to those around them who know their mood is exceptionally elevated. There are also some manifestations of depression that are believed to actually be a milder form of Bipolar, not simply depression.

The idea of a disorder referred to first as manic depression, and then later as Bipolar, has been around for at least a century, dating back to the beginning of psychiatry. However, it’s only been since the 1970s or so that the idea of a Bipolar spectrum has been gaining widespread approval. Although not all psychiatrists believe that a Bipolar spectrum is needed, there are distinct reasons to have one.

The Bipolar spectrum is a way of defining the range of severity of Bipolar symptoms that patients experience. Those with clear manic episodes that cycle with depression, those closest to what you see in the movies and on TV, would be at one end of the spectrum. Those who have mild periods of mania, which may be mistaken for times of normal happiness, would fall on the other end of the spectrum.

The bipolar spectrum is divided into four segments:

Bipolar I is the new name for what was typically thought of as manic depression. Those with Bipolar I have a manic episode that lasts for at least one week, alternating with periods of depression. The cycles are random and can’t be anticipated. The periods of depression occur more often than the mania, at about 3 to 1.

Bipolar II is used to describe those with Bipolar who don’t show symptoms as severe. The periods of mania are much milder, and can last several days, though not necessarily as long as those with Bipolar I. The periods of mania are referred to as hypomania and can often be mistaken for periods of normal happiness. Also, because the episodes of depression outnumber the periods of hypomania, usually at least 30 to 1, many patients are thought to simply be depressed, and the cycling that comes with Bipolar II can be missed.

The other two categories of Bipolar aren’t typically thought of when someone thinks of depression or manic depression.

Bipolar III refers to those who may have seemed to be simply depressed, yet end up with hypomanic episodes when they are put on antidepressant medications. In these cases, the antidepressant medications have made symptoms worse, but a good psychiatrist will be watching for these reactions and carefully working with the patient to find the best treatment for them.

Bipolar IV is used for those who have a rapid cycling between the extremes of mania and depression. This type of bipolar disorder is described as at least 4 episodes of either mania or depression in a year. In rare cases, the cycling may be even more rapid, up to those severe cases where the cycling occurs throughout a single day.

The DSM-IV, the “bible” of mental disorders, refers to part of the Bipolar spectrum called Cyclothymia. This is alternative Bipolar III, characterized by a history of episodes of hypomania and depression. The depression can certainly be recognized, but may not be as severe as other depressive episodes. Remember that because hypomania can be seen as normal happiness, depending on the diagnosing physician, they may be seen as having recurrent depression.

Although, if the return of the depression appears to have a distinct cycle, the diagnosis may be changed from depression to part of the Bipolar spectrum. A doctor may also treat recurrent depression as if it is on the Bipolar spectrum, even if he doesn’t suspect episodes of hypomania; mood stabilizers in combination with anti depressants are helpful for some people.

Cyclothymia also describes those whose hypomania or depressive episodes appear as a personality trait. Since the cycling may be gradual and the symptoms very mild, others may not recognize the individual as having a mental illness. None the less, these patients can also be helped, and their mood stabilized so that their life is not affected.

One of the reasons this spectrum of bipolar isn’t widely accepted is because there are some who feel many different manifestations of mental illness are really subsets of bipolar disorder. Diseases such as substance abuse, eating disorders, or personality disorders have been proposed to fit on the scale, sometimes in between the categories stated above, as fractions, like Bipolar I 1/2.

If you hear of someone who has been diagnosed, or have been diagnosed yourself, with manic depression, or Bipolar disorder, it is unlikely to be as dramatic as depicted in fiction. Although symptoms of the disease are along the same lines as those seen in the movies, they are usually not as severe.

photo credit: Sander van der Wel

Also remember that Bipolar may refer to a much milder form of cycling that mostly involves depression, rather than distinct periods of mania. And, as hypomania may seem, even to the person experiencing them, as what normal feels like, a diagnosis of Bipolar may seem much scarier than it really is.

It’s important for anyone who suspects they may have depression or Bipolar disorder to see a trained professional to help distinguish exactly what is going on. This will ensure a method of treatment that is best suited to each individual. If they don’t feel comfortable with their physician, they should see someone else.

Since mental illness can be very slippery, unlike an infection, treatment will probably need to be adjusted as some medications may not work as well, or even as the seasons change. A good relationship with a doctor allows the doctor to sense changes in mood that may indicate the need for a change in medication.

Whether a diagnosis of Bipolar I, or Bipolar II, or even a diagnosis of only depression, sometimes called unipolar depression, there is help available. A balanced mood helps people live a normal life without ruining relationships, turning to substance abuse, or engaging in even more extreme behaviors – including suicide. Mental illness is an illness, and a good doctor will treat it as such.

If you have any questions, please leave me a comment below.

Self Help For Depression – Cracking The Shell Is The First Step To Feeling Better

Depression No Responses »

Aug 272011

Depression is a harsh mistress. One day you feel like you can’t move and you don’t want to get out of bed. You experience life as if behind a glass wall where you are separated from everyone else, even though you are in the same room. Then, the next day, you are restless, and everything irritates you. The sound of someone’s voice, the scratch of your clothes. You hear a customer on the phone and you just want to go off. You feel like you would rather poke your eyes out then deal with one more person who wants something from you. Been there, done that. Fortunately, there is help.

Seeing a good psychiatrist to get medication can be a big help. In some situations, so is therapy. You may choose not to go this route, or even if you do, there are a lot of things you can do to help yourself with depression. The following tips will all help.

And, unlike other articles online that give simple directions, and feel good platitudes, I understand what it’s like to be depressed and give tips on the least you can do to help yourself.

When you feel depressed, the best thing to help yourself is to do the exact opposite of what you really want to do. Your brain’s wires are crossed and sending you faulty messages. What seems like the best course of action is a brain trying to figure out what will help. But, depression makes it very hard to see things clearly, so what you want to do really isn’t the best thing for you.

I understand that these may be very difficult to do, especially on those days where’s a struggle just to get out of bed to use the restroom. However, if you can drag yourself out of bed for just one of these things, I promise it will help you feel a little bit better.

1. You feel alone and isolated, like no one understands what you are going through.

Understanding Depression: What We Know and What You Can Do About It

Read all you can about depression so that you understand it. Until you understand what is happening to you, you may feel like you are going crazy. It also helps to read the symptoms of depression, so that you can really see how lots of things in your life are all part of the same disease.

For instance, it helps to know that being tired goes along with feeling irritable, as well as not being hungry, or being overly hungry. You may feel sluggish, or on the flip side, restless. And, you may switch back and forth between the two. One day you’ll feel like you can’t sit still because you feel like you have to get away. Then, the next day, you could feel like you need a crane to lift you out of your seat. Things happen around you that you can’t makes sense of, or that you don’t want to make sense of.

Seek out forums if you can, or at least stories of others who are dealing with depression. Trust me, you are not alone, and there are others who have beat this disease – you can too. The internet is a great place to look for others, and even in the middle of the night it’s very possible that you will find someone on a forum that is also unable to sleep and needs someone to talk to.

2. You feel like all you want to do is curl up in a ball and pull the covers over you head. You want the world to leave you alone, and you want things as dark as possible to shut everything out.

So, force yourself to get out of bed, or get out of the dark room and get into the light. Taking a walk in the sunshine will go a long way to helping you feel better.

However, I know this may be way more than you are ready for. In that case, try sitting on your front porch, deck, patio, or even the front steps of your apartment. If you have to, sit in a chair with a blanket pulled up to your shoulders and a pair of huge sunglasses on.

Either way, getting outside will help. Even on a rainy day, the change in air will help. And, if it’s not storming, the rain can be very soothing. Or, if you are someone like me who likes storms, then enjoy the thunder and lightening.

If you really don’t feel like going outside, try a therapy lamp. These are very bright, but they do help to lift your mood. They won’t have the added effect of raising your vitamin D levels, which has been shown to boost mood. However, they do have the right wavelength that your eyes sense and send messages to your brain to make hormones that work against the crossed, destructive messages your brain is sending you.

3. You want everyone to just go away and leave you alone.

So, you have to search out other people. That doesn’t mean go to a huge party. That’s enough to make you want to poke your eyes out. Try calling a good, understanding friend or family member, and ask if you can spend some time together. Have lunch if you feel like you could go to a restaurant. If not, see if you can just hang out. Maybe watch a movie at home. You don’t need large gestures, even small ones will bring you out of your shell.

Try to watch comedies if possible. Eddie Izzard is great. I was having a bad day one day and all I wanted to do was come home and crawl into bed. But, when I got there, my brother was over and I wanted to snap. However, feeling like I had to be a good hostess, I sat down to watch the show with him. Within a few minutes I was laughing. I’ve asked around and found that Mr. Izzard has a similar effect on many people.

If you feel up to it, talk to your friend about how you feel. Maybe ask for advice, or help with something that seems overwhelming at the moment. Many people are happy to help, if you tell them exactly what you need help with.

4. You don’t want to move from your bed or from you couch. You may feel aches and pains and an overall yuckiness.

First, tackle the yuckiness. Try taking a shower and just enjoy the water washing over you. Wash off, taking time to make sure you hit every square inch of skin. Run your fingers between your toes. The point is to:

Make sure that you feel super clean which emotionally feels like you have washed away the yuckiness.
To pay attention to something other than your mood. By taking the time to think about hitting every square inch, you must focus on something else.
Get you to move. Even the small movements of turning on the water and washing get you out of the fetal position and give you a small boost.

The water doesn’t have to be warm. In fact, it may help to make it on the cool side to get a sensation you don’t usually get. And, cool water makes you feel more refreshed, further getting rid of the yucky feeling.

5. You feel like getting up will take more energy than you have. You think that only one of those huge cranes has the strength to lift you.

Of course it’s not true that you can’t move, you just don’t want to. I’m sure that you move to go to the bathroom, so moving is possible. Focus on small things at first, and then true exercise – if you can.

Load the dishwasher, vacuum the floor. If you have cats, scoop the litter box. None of these things are particularly fun, but they do get you to move. And, when you are done them, you will feel a sense of accomplishment, which also boosts mood.

Exercise is probably the best thing you can do. But, I know that this isn’t realistic when you feel the deepest in depression.

So, on those days when you feel better, even if you still don’t really feel good, do some exercise. It’s very easy to take a walk. Especially in the sun, as noted above, but even in the evening a walk will help.

If you are up to it, do something a little more vigorous. Try power walking, or lifting weights. The more consistently you exercise, the better you will feel.

Exercise is always easier with a friend. Even if you aren’t depressed, it’s easier to keep to a regular schedule if you do it with a friend. But when you are depressed, doing it with a friend helps even more. Combining this, number 5, with friends, number 3, intensifies the mood boost. So, if you can, exercise with a friend.

There are other self help for depression techniques. You may find that Vitamin D supplements help. You may also find that other herbs help. As part of the research you are doing in number 1, look for supplements you can take to help you out. This is especially helpful if you don’t, or can’t, get to a doctor for medication, or if you don’t want to take artificial substances.

Remember, when you are depressed, you brain is confused and sending the wrong message. Find out all you can about depression, and then tell yourself that doing the opposite of what you really want to do will do the most good. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment below.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Lights – Let The Power Of Artificial Sunlight Boost Your Mood

Depression No Responses »

Aug 262011

What is seasonal affective disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression that comes about usually in the winter months due to lack of sunlight. You may also have heard it referred to by it’s abbreviation, SAD.

While most of the time, SAD occurs during the winter, there is are some cases that occur during the summer, or lighter months.

It normally happens in Northern climates. The farther away from the equator you are, the more likely you are to suffer from the disorder. It is particularly hard for people who work long hours or have a long commute since in the late fall and winter, they may leave in the morning before the sun rises, and come home after the sun is set.

My favorite SAD light: Phillips BriteLITE 6

Typical fluorescent lights, while bright, don’t have the same beneficial wavelengths as come from the sun. So, while you may have bright light around you throughout the day, it is the wavelengths of the sun that help to prevent depression, including SAD.

Women are at a greater risk of depression than men. This holds true for SAD as well. Also as with other forms of depression, SAD can occur as early as the teen years, or may not affect you until adulthood.

How to you treat seasonal affective disorder?

Depression can sometimes make you feel like you are going crazy. You may wonder why you are snapping at people, why you seem to be tired all the time, or always see the glass as half empty. Depression, including SAD, can some on slowly, so slowly you may not think that anything is wrong until you’ve been suffering for weeks.

Fortunately, there are a lot of therapies that help with depression, including SAD. First, you should see your doctor, if only for advice. They will be able to rule out other causes of your symptoms such as thyroid or anemia that can make you feel slowed down and sluggish.

If your doctor diagnoses SAD, there are many treatments they may then suggest.

The easiest way is of course to get more sunlight. Clearly, this isn’t feasible for most people. However, taking the opportunity to get a bit more sunlight in the winter isn’t a bad idea. If the weather permits, take a walk outside. Exercise, as well as the light, helps to lift depression.

Maintaining a social life as much as possible will also help to lessen the symptoms of depression.

Anti-depressant medication may also help. However, it can take a few weeks to get the dosage correct and the symptoms persist in the meantime.

Talk therapy is a treatment common to depression, and can be effective with SAD as well.

By itself, or with other forms of treatment, light therapy can significantly help with SAD. Light therapy is the use of a special light that mimics sunlight. This allows you to get the sunlight your body is missing, when you aren’t able to get the real thing.

There are some people who shouldn’t use light therapy; however, such as those who have a sensitivity to light or problems with their eyes. That is one of the reasons why it is important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor before starting light therapy.

How do these lights work?

The strength, or brightness of the lights, is rated on a scale of lumens, abbreviated as lux. The higher the number of lumens, the stronger the light is and the less amount of time you have to spend with the light each day. However, a minimum of 10,000 lux is recommended for the treatment of SAD.

Therapy lights do not emit any UV radiation, so they are safe to use with even sensitive skin. Unlike tanning booths, which have also been known to raise your mood, these lights won’t cause injury or lead to a long term possibility of more serious problems such as skin cancer.

The lights are used daily to provide a dosage to lift the depression symptoms. Bright light, with wavelengths in the blue spectrum, hits the retinas of the eyes and activates special light receptor cells. These in turn send a message to the brain that helps to regulate hormones and lift depression.

Therefore, for a therapy light to work, the light must hit the retina of the eye to be effective. While you use the light, you must keep your eyes open; however you shouldn’t stare directly at the light.

The best time to use the lights is in the morning between 7 am and noon. This mimics the rising of the sun to it’s peak and provides the light at the time when you would normally get the strongest light from the sun itself.

These lights are very, very bright and they take some getting used to. Typically, they must be 18 inches or so from you face. The dosage calls for at least 30 minutes a day, up to an hour for more severe depression symptoms.

The manufacturers say that you can read or do other activities during the time, but as mentioned above, it will take some time to get used to the light and you may find that this would be a time better spend just sitting quietly and thinking.

The lights can also be positioned near exercise equipment so that you can exercise while getting your light therapy. This provides a one-two punch of light and exercise, both of which help treat depression. As you may find the light too bright to read, or look at a computer or TV screen, having it running while exercising means you don’t have to worry about a glare when trying to do other activities.

How do you shop for season affective disorder lights?

First, realize that you may get sticker shock when you see how much these units cost. Usually a few hundred dollars, you may be able to find them cheaper on Amazon.com or eBay. Some insurance companies will reimburse, or cover part of the cost if you doctor prescribes it, so it is worth checking to see if your insurance company will help you pay for it.

Second, look for a light that has at least 10,000 lux. One with a timer is useful as well so that you can be sure you are getting the full time without having to keep an eye on the clock.

Third, be sure that the light you are looking at provides light in the blue wavelengths. You won’t be able to tell there is enhanced blue light, but your eyes and brain will be able to.

Fourth, the light you use should be lightweight and easy to move. This allows you to use the light wherever works best for you and store it out the way until you need it the next day. Many are tabletop, although others sit on stands on the floor, or come with an optional bracket to mount it on the wall. This option is particularly helpful for when you exercise at home, where you may not have a table close enough to your machine to get the most benefit.

So, which light do I recommend?

The best of the seasonal affective disorder lights: Philips BriteLITE 6

I personally have the Phillips BriteLITE 6. It is a tabletop model that is easy to move. It comes with several settings that allow it to be used in 15 minute increments from 15 minutes to an hour. The case is an attractive blue, and doesn’t look industrial as some models can.

Also, the customer service from the company was excellent. I had a problem where the light stopped working. I replaced the bulbs, but it still wouldn’t light again. I called the manufacturer for help and they said that I apparently got a defective light.

They have a 2 year manufacturers warranty, so even though I was able to use the light for over a year, they replaced it at no extra cost, and even included a postage paid label to return the defective light.

You can get this light at Amazon.com for a very reasonable price. Click on the picture to the left to be taken to the product page to purchase.

Three Great 21st Birthday Presents

Birthdays No Responses »

Jul 102011

In order to celebrate a momentous occasion like a 21st birthday it is customary to reward the birthday boy or girl with some fantastic 21st birthday presents. This article will provide you with some inspirational 21st birthday ideas so that you will have absolutely no trouble picking the perfect gift.

Experience Days

If there are no suitable traditional presents then it can be a really great idea to buy the lucky birthday boy or girl an experience day. These can involve anything from pampering at a luxury spa to skydiving out of a high altitude plane, there is definitely enough variety to suit all tastes. Furthermore, experience days can be bought for more than one person, so that the birthday celebrant can spend some quality time with a loved one, close friend or family member.

Holidays

The cost of travel is constantly decreasing and so it has become more than realistic to purchase a trip abroad as a special birthday present. Holidays can make excellent gifts for milestone birthdays because they are easily tailored to suit the recipient and will definitely be memorable. Unless you are very close to the recipient holidays make poor surprise gifts. You will need their passport details (if the trip is abroad) and to check when they would be free to go on holiday on the dates you have booked the hotel.

Meals

If both of the previous options are way out of your budget then perhaps a cheaper alternative would be to buy the birthday boy or girl a meal. Choosing their favourite teenage haunt could remind them of the good old days or picking a more intimate, upmarket location would celebrate their new transition to being an adult.

Conclusion

Hopefully this article has provided you with some great ideas for less than traditional 21st birthday ideas. Regardless of what you decide to buy, I’m sure they will appreciate the thought.

Planning Kids’ Parties

Birthdays No Responses »

Jul 072011

If you are an organized person and you love throwing parties for your kids, here are some ideas to making the best of your plan. These ideas consist of having an itinerary planned way in advanced so that the kids remain amused and entertained for the entire party. If you have a few cupcake recipes put away, now is the time to pull them out.

The earlier you plan this all out, the better. Don’t put the date or time on a holiday or on school vacations cause you may not have many kids show up. Your next step in assuring a smooth party is to make a list of all the kids that will be there. If you prefer to have a small party, a good rule that can be followed is to invite the same number of kids as the age of your kid. For instance, if you have a 6 year old, invite 6 kids. If you are the kind of person who doesn’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings and you don’t mind having all the neighborhood kids and then some, go ahead and invite everybody. If you do this, you better have some other parents there to help you supervise.

In order to stay really organized, it is a good idea to have each ones phone number, a column to put a check mark by those coming, and maybe a gift section to write down what gift was given. That way you’ll be able to send them a thank you note/card at a later date. A good idea is to take pictures of the one having the party with every guest so as to send it later to them with a thank you note attached.

Usually you will have a theme to go with the party as to create an atmosphere that will bring excitement for the kids. You can base these themes off of movies, books, magazines, or television. If the party is close to a holiday, you could even have the theme center around that.

Some of the most popular themes found are High School Musical, Hannah Montana, Disney Princess Parties, Pirate Birthdays, and Star Wars. If you have a younger child, Barney is always good or even Sesame Street. If you have little games, it brings more excitement to the mix. You could perhaps make special cupcake icing to go on your cupcakes to give as prizes. The main idea is to try to have everyone win something so each child is happy.

Once the party is done, you could have little “loot bags” handed out to each person as they leave. It doesn’t need to be anything big, but something that reflects the party theme is a good idea. If you have older kids, sport things, gift cards, or t-shirts may be more ideal.

Whatever you do, you can make these parties tons of fun. You can create good memories with friends, family, and close relatives. By planning in advance and preparing thoroughly you will have a happy child. Who doesn’t want their child to be happy? Make sure you get plenty of pictures, cause one day they’ll be all grown with kids of their own.

Quotes On Friendship And Life

Friendship 1 Response »

Jul 052011

Let’s face it – life just wouldn’t be the same without friends. And, whether you easily make new friends, have friends dating back years, or have on again off again friends, it helps to know what other people think about friendship sometimes. The following quotes on friendship and life cover every aspect of our relationships with friends.

Friendship Is Like…Quotes

Best friends are like diamonds, precious and rare; False friends are like leaves, found everywhere
Friendship is like wine, it gets better with age
A friend is like a rainbow. They brighten your life when you’ve been through a storm.
Friendship is like a single red rose, delicate, beautiful, and eternal.
Friendship is like a ship that helps to cross over the ocean of time.

True Friend Quotes And Sayings

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out
The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.
A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails. ~Donna Roberts
Friendship isn’t a big thing – it’s a million little things.
A true friend is one who thinks you are a good egg even if you are half-cracked.

Encouragement Quotes For Friends

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.”
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. ~ Dr. Seuss
Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength.
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~Maya Angelou
This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.

Quotes On Family And Friends

Friends are God’s way of apologizing to us for our families.
One loyal friend is better than ten thousand family members.
The best if times are always found when friends and family gather round.
First my Mother, forever my friend; alternative: First my sister, forever my friend
There’s an awful lot of blood around that water is thicker than. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, 1966

Thanks For Being My Friend Quotes

A good friend is hard to find, hard to lose, and impossible to forget…
You meet people who forget you. You forget people you meet. But sometimes you meet those people you can’t forget. Those are your ‘friends.’
It is by chance that we met, by choice that we became friends.
In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~Albert Schweitzer
Nothing but heaven itself is better than a friend who is really a friend. ~Plautus

Nice Sayings About Friends

A hug is worth a thousand words. A friend is worth more.
A friend is someone who knows all about you and loves you anyway.
Money might make you wealthy, but friends makes you rich.
A friend in kindergarten is the one who sat next to you and let you have the pretty red crayon, when only the ugly black one was left.
Remember that every good friend was once a stranger

Friendship Disappointment Quotes

Sometimes friendships just don’t work out, for whatever reason. While this can be heartbreaking, the following quotes may help you know that you’re not alone.

Disappointment is a sort of bankruptcy – the bankruptcy of a soul that expends too much in hope and expectation. ~Eric Hoffer
There’s nothing worse than loving somebody who disappoints you…” ~Unknown Author
The only people you need in your life are the ones that prove they need you in theirs.
Sometimes we expect more from others because we would be willing to do that much more for them.
I give and give, even when I get nothing back – and that sets me up for disappointment. ~Angie Stone

Friends Come And Go Quotes

Friends come and go, but good friends always leave footprints on your heart.
Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. The older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.
People come into your life and people leave it… you just have to trust that life has a road mapped out for you.
Time goes by so fast, people go in and out of your life. You must never miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean to you.
“Friends are the most important part of your life. Treasure the tears, treasure the laughter, but most importantly, treasure the memories.” ~Dave Brenner

Quotes On Bad Friendship

Then, at times, it’s not just that the friendship didn’t work out, but that your friend was actually a bad friend. In that case, the following bad friend quotes should help you feel better.

We always thought we’d look back on our tears and laugh, but we never thought we’d look back on our laughter and cry.
The worst solitude is to be destitute of sincere friendship.
Real friends are very special, but you have to be careful because sometimes you have a friend and you think they are made of rock, then suddenly you realize they’re only made of sand. It’s a terrible thing to go through life thinking that you have a rock on your side when you haven’t. ~Maria Callas
Our very best friends have a tincture of jealousy even in their friendship, and when they hear us praised by others, will ascribe it to sinister and interested motives if they can. ~Unknown
“If you’re going to beat on me like a drum, can I get you to improve your rhythm so I can dance to it?”

If, after reading the above quotes about bad friends, you feel that you need to end your friendship, the following should help you there:

Quotes On Ending Friendships

Life’s not about the people who act true to your face. It’s about the people who remain true behind your back. (For someone who hasn’t been.)
It is far better to be alone, than to be in bad company.
A friendship that can end never really began.
It breaks my heart; it makes me sad to think of all the times we had. You made me laugh and you made me cry. And all that I can do is sigh and wonder why.
I don’t need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better. ~Plutarch

Finally, to end this list on a positive note, some happy messages on friendship:

Friendship To Love Quotes

Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you I had no control over.
Well, it seems to me that the best relationships – the ones that last – are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is… suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with. ~Gillian Anderson
“The best friend will probably acquire the best wife, because a good marriage is founded on the talent for friendship” –Friedrich Nietzsche
If we are just friends, then tell me, why do I feel like we are much more? ~T. Anderson-Canela
Give her two red roses, each with a note. The first note says ‘For the woman I love’ and the second, ‘For my best friend.’

What are some cool birthday gifts for a boyfriend?

Gifts No Responses »

Jul 042011

It is time again – your boyfriend is having his birthday! I know it’s hard to choose something cool he will like. You don’t want to buy him something you bought him last year. Along with the ideas in Birthday Presents For Boyfriends, here are some gift ideas:

Adventures

Getting him an adventure from the internet is an awesome idea. There are sites which offer adventures and experiences for a certain price – like going in the mountains or visiting your favorite soccer or football stadium of your favorite team. Take advantage of this offer and your boyfriend will certainly be glad.

What you could also do, if you think you can not afford a professionally organized adventure, is to do it yourself. Think of something creative. For example do a cool picnic at a local park. This has a definite romantic element to it. Or you can take a trip to the ocean, if you live close enough. If your boyfriend likes nature, both of these getaways will be appreciated.

Sports

Another idea is to get him a gift based on the sports and hobbies he enjoys. For example if he is a passionate tennis player, go buy him a new tennis racket. Or go play a few rounds of tennis with him. If he is a passionate swimmer some ideas would be a new pair of goggles or new swimming shorts.

If he doesn’t play sports, but enjoys watching them, an idea is to get him a DVD of highlights from his favorite game. Many games, such as football, may have highlight videos of his favorite team, or highlights with history of the sport in general and all teams. Another option is to get him a biography of his favorite coach; many coaches who have been coaching for years have biographies available.

Humor

You could also do a funny present like buying him a book on learning best way to meet girls if he has some humor. Many guys also like gifts related to drinking. Look for many of the humorous shot glasses to add to, or start, his collection.

So, now you should have lots of ideas for cool birthday gifts for boyfriend . As his girlfriend, with a little bit of thinking, you will certainly be able to choose the best present for him. And he will be glad and appreciate it as long as it comes from the heart.

Are Dating Sites for Teenagers Safe?

Relationships No Responses »

Jul 032011

Online dating can be a fun experience. There are tons of new people on teen dating sites every day looking for the same things that you are. But in the back of your mind you may be thinking, “Are dating sites for teenagers safe?”

The thing with online dating sites for teenagers is that even though there are hundreds of honest people who are looking to socialize and establish relationships just like you, there are others who are a lot less honest. It’s possible for you to come across someone who you think is your age, but is actually 20 years older than you.

These people aren’t looking for the same things you are. That’s where you have to be careful. You are on these dating sites to experiment and create bonds. You may have relationship questions to ask, personality questions and anything else in order to learn more about the other person.

Whatever the reason may be that you are on dating sites, you want to make sure that you stay safe. Here are some tips on staying safe online.

1. Never give out personal information. Some people will be quick at asking you where you live, what your phone number is, what school you go to, etc. Never give out any of this info right away. You don’t know the person you’re communicating and you want to stay safe.

2. Don’t turn to online dating if you’re depressed or having family troubles. I know it sounds crazy, but you are the perfect prey for online predators if you are in this type of situation. They will try to bond with you emotionally and dig in deep into your feelings. They will tell you everything that you want to hear and draw you in. Don’t fall for it.

3. If you must meet someone online, be sure to take a relative or friend with you. Once again, you have no idea who this person is. You always want to remain safe.

Now that you have some information on how online dating sites work, you can better prepare yourself. Have fun while you’re online, but remember to stay safe.

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