MyDepressionSpace.comMyDepressionSpace.comCauses and symptoms of depression. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, anxiety. New treatments including vagus nerve stimulation therapy Articles
The relationship between Alzheimer's and Depression: depression sufferers a
2008-05-04 04:52:00 A history of depression is associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, a new study has found, especially when the depression develops before age 60. Researchers began the study with 486 men and women who did not have dementia following them for an average of six years. A total of 134 reported a history of depression. During the study period 44 developed dementia; of those, 33 developed Alzheimer’s. People who had reported incidents of depression before age 60 were almost four times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as those who reported no depressive symptoms. Those who reported depression after 60 were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as those who did not. “The better we understand the link between depression and Alzheimer’s, the more insight we will have into the cause of Alzheimer’s,” said Dr. Monique M. B. Breteler, the senior author. “This can allow us to develop more rational therapies.” Dr. Breteler is a professor o... More About: Depression , Relationship
Electrical stimulation delivered to keys areas deep within the brain found
2008-05-03 02:05:00 I think that FDA approval for this treatment are several years away. I assume reimbursement will be an issue, even if FDA approved. But it is truly a potentially exciting new depression treatment. Here's how it works. Imagine what a pacemaker does to your heart: Its electrical impulses regulate a heartbeat that's out of whack. Now picture a pacemaker-type device that jolts the brain and regulates mood circuits, potentially easing deep depression no other treatments can touch:In what some are hailing as a brave new use of existing technology, researchers presented evidence this week at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons' annual scientific meeting that deep brain stimulation does just that, improving both severe depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, a frequent companion disorder. "Depression is a physiological disorder, and basically we are regulating the abnormal signals to brain causing the depression," says Dr. Ali Rezai, director of the C... More About: Deep , Brain , Keys , Electrical , The Brain
DC Madam to Washington politicians commits suicide by hanging herself follo
2008-05-02 04:33:00 Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the so-called "D.C. Madam " who was convicted last month of running an escort service that catered to Washington 's political elite, killed herself near her mother's home in Florida:The body of Deborah Jeane Palfrey was found in a shed near her mother's home about 20 miles northwest of Tampa. Police said the 52-year-old Palfrey left at least two suicide notes and other writings to her family in a notebook, but they did not disclose their contents. Palfrey apparently hanged herself with nylon rope from the shed's ceiling. Her mother discovered the body.Blanche Palfrey had no sign that her daughter was suicidal, and there was no immediate indication that alcohol or drugs were involved, police Capt. Jeffrey Young said. I think most suicides are planned well in advance and normally the suicide victim does their best to disguise any suicidal ideations. They don't want to jeopardize "the plan". In another strange twist, one of the esco... More About: Politicians , Suicide
May is National Mental Health Awareness month. Mental Health Month: Get Co
2008-05-01 18:15:00 The National Mental Health Association sponsors this special month for those coping with a mental illness and their loved ones:Mental Health Month was created more than 50 years ago to raise awareness about mental health conditions and the importance of mental wellness for all. This year’s theme is focused on an essential component of maintaining and protecting mental health and wellness: social connectedness. The tagline for this year’s observance is “Get Connected.” There are many ways of creating connections that support mental health: Get connected to family and friends to feel close and supported. Get connected to your community to feel a sense of belonging and purpose. Get connected to professional help to feel better when you’re stressed and having trouble coping.Comment: I would encourage everyone to their wonderful web site. On the site you will find materials and tools to learn more about the role of social connectedness in promoting and pro... More About: Awareness
American Idol's Paula Abdul: same Idol singer, one song, and a phantom seco
2008-04-30 03:10:00 One plus zero equals two? Well if you were Paula Abdul on tonight's American Idol show that would be a correct mathematical equation. It is not a rumor. I would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it. It was actually quite simple:David Cook sang one song. Then he was the lucky recipient of a critique of the "first song" immediately followed by a critique of a stealth "second song" by Paula Abdul. Mercifully Simon Cowell, of all people, rescued her from further humiliation.Paula Abdul: "Oh my gosh, I thought you sang twice"! Hello? Simon Cowell: "this is the weirdest show we've ever had". That's the understatement of the year. COMMENT: The Betty Ford Center has an excellent program for the prescription drug abuse. The toll free number is 800-434-7365 . A residential treatment center certainly changed my life. More About: Phantom , Song
The new depression treatment of deep brain stimulation may help severely de
2008-04-29 22:55:00 I have written about this topic before, this new depression treatment may offer new hope to severely depressed patients. It is called deep brain stimulation. Although potential FDA approval will still take several years, if approved, I think the treatment will face the same reimbursement challenges as vagus nerve stimulation( VNS) therapy currently faces for depression. Medicare and most insurance companies do not reimburse for VNS to treat depression, a $35,000 procedure:Deep brain stimulation requires minimally invasive surgery to place electrodes into specific parts of the brain that are believed to be malfunctioning. Once in place, the electrodes emit tiny, adjustable, electrical pulses that block dysfunctional activity in the brain. It's been used for about 20 years in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Rezai added that the current group working on DBS and depression, which includes researchers from Brown University and Massachusetts General Hospital as well, h... More About: Depression , Treatment , Brain
Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz: the basics of stress and its consequences, inclu
2008-04-29 19:36:00 We often refer to stress as an emotion, but it is actually a much more complicated phenomenon. Stress is, in fact, a complex mix of emotional, physical and behavioral responses. Feeling "stressed out" is your body's way of saying, "I cannot cope with this challenging situation." Stress can be physically painful and a trigger for depression. I have been a victim of both. According to Dr. Oz:But stress is not always just a result of something negative happening to us. It can be something that takes us out of our usual routines, or something that creates more responsibility or work for us—even something very positive and exciting, like planning a wedding or adjusting to life with a new baby.Having some level of stress is a necessary and positive thing. Stress can be motivating and can enhance performance—ask any athlete or stage performer! I've done my best and worst work while under stress! But too much stress is a bad thing. Chronic stress causes health problems such as high... More About: Oprah Winfrey , Oprah , Basics , Consequences
What is the definition of major depressive disorder and what are the sympto
2008-04-29 01:49:00 I am often asked about what is the difference between depression and major depressive disorder. Major depression is when five or more symptoms of depression are present for at least 2 weeks. These symptoms include feeling sad, hopeless, worthless, or pessimistic. In addition, people with major depression often have behavior changes, such as new eating and sleeping patterns. Major depression increases a person's risk of suicide. Listed below are the nine symptoms from which five or more must be present to be diagnosed with major depression: Trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping A dramatic change in appetite often with weight gain or loss Inactivity and withdrawal from usual activities, a loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed (such sex) Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and inappropriate guilt Thoughts of death or suicide Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness Extreme difficulty concentrating Fatique and lack of energy Ag... More About: Definition , Depressive
Fibromyalgia and women: whatever it is, women get it more than men
2008-04-28 15:14:00 Fibromyalgia is the Rodney Dangerfield of illnesses: "I don't get no respect. I played hide-and-seek, and they wouldn't even look for me”. What does one look for in a Fibromyalgia patient? Are you exhausted? Do you have pain all over but can’t figure out what’s wrong? If so, you may be suffering from fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes exhaustion, sleep disturbances and diffuse pain in your muscles, tendons, and ligaments.To receive an official medical diagnosis of fibromyalgia, a patient must experience widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months and experience tenderness or pain in at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points when pressure is applied. The illness is a real drag and can ruin the daily quality of your life. Fibromyalgia may affect as much as 3-6 percent of the U.S. population. It is more common in women than in men, but the reasons for this difference are unclear. “There ... More About: Women , Fibromyalgia
A New Earth: Oprah Winfrey's web cast class number 9: the theme is "Your I
2008-04-28 01:52:00 Monday at 9:00PM Eastern is the eigth class of Oprah Winfrey's webcast based on the book A New Earth : Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. The class is titled Your Inner Purpose. It is getting very hard for me to concentrate for the entire class and do the excercises. Anyway, here are a few of our pre-class assignments: "Your life has an inner purpose and an outer purpose. Inner purpose concerns Being and is primary. Outer purpose concerns doing and is secondary. While this book speaks mainly of your inner purpose, this chapter and the next will also address the question of how to align outer purpose and inner purpose in your life Your outer purpose can change over time. Finding and living in alignment with the inner purpose is the foundation for fulfilling your outer purpose. It is the basis for true success. Without that alignment, you can still achieve certain things through effort, struggle, determination, and sheer hard work or cunning. But there is no joy in ... More About: Cast , Theme , Class
A New Earth: Oprah Winfrey's web cast class number 9: the theme is "Your I
2008-04-28 01:52:00 Monday at 9:00PM Eastern is the eigth class of Oprah Winfrey's webcast based on the book A New Earth : Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. The class is titled Your Inner Purpose. It is getting very hard for me to concentrate for the entire class and do the excercises. Anyway, here are a few of our pre-class assignments: "Your life has an inner purpose and an outer purpose. Inner purpose concerns Being and is primary. Outer purpose concerns doing and is secondary. While this book speaks mainly of your inner purpose, this chapter and the next will also address the question of how to align outer purpose and inner purpose in your life Your outer purpose can change over time. Finding and living in alignment with the inner purpose is the foundation for fulfilling your outer purpose. It is the basis for true success. Without that alignment, you can still achieve certain things through effort, struggle, determination, and sheer hard work or cunning. But there is no joy in ... More About: Cast , Theme , Class
Deep brain stimulation may help depression and obsessive-compulsive disorde
2008-04-26 00:18:00 The results of two small but interesting studies about deep brain stimulation were released today. Two of the largest and longest studies so far show a "brain pacemaker" can effectively treat depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Dr. Ali Rezai, head of neurosurgery at the Cleveland Clinic, who led the studies, said the technique known as deep brain stimulation helped the most severely depressed patients improve significantly. Researchers from Butler Hospital/Brown Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School were also involved in the depression study.Seventeen patients, diagnosed as having major depressive disorder, were followed for a year and demonstrated overall improvement in mood as well as social and occupational functioning, he said. "These were severely depressed patients, the most depressed," Rezai said in an interview. Patients included in the study had been depressed for at least five years, an... More About: Depression , Deep , Brain
Deep brain stimulation may help depression and obsessive-compulsive disorde
2008-04-26 00:18:00 The results of two small but interesting studies about deep brain stimulation were released today. Two of the largest and longest studies so far show a "brain pacemaker" can effectively treat depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Dr. Ali Rezai, head of neurosurgery at the Cleveland Clinic, who led the studies, said the technique known as deep brain stimulation helped the most severely depressed patients improve significantly. Researchers from Butler Hospital/Brown Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School were also involved in the depression study.Seventeen patients, diagnosed as having major depressive disorder, were followed for a year and demonstrated overall improvement in mood as well as social and occupational functioning, he said. "These were severely depressed patients, the most depressed," Rezai said in an interview. Patients included in the study had been depressed for at least five years, an... More About: Depression , Deep , Brain
Depression risks increase with use of anti-addiction pills such as Chantix
2008-04-25 02:54:00 Two years ago, scientists had high hopes for new pills that would help people quit smoking, lose weight and maybe kick other tough addictions like alcohol and cocaine.The pills worked in a novel way, by blocking pleasure centers in the brain that provide the feel-good response from smoking or eating. Now it seems the drugs may block pleasure too well, possibly raising the risk of depression and suicide.Chantix has been linked to dozens of reports of suicides and hundreds of suicidal behaviors."I started to get severely depressed and just going down into that hole ... the one you can't crawl out of," said one patient, whose doctor took her off Chantix after she swallowed too many sleeping pills and other medicines one night.Side effects also plague two other drugs:Rimonabant, an obesity pill sold as Acomplia in Europe, was tied to higher rates of depression and a suicide in a study last month. The maker, Sanofi-Aventis SA, still hopes to win its approval in the Unite... More About: Depression , Addiction , Anti , Pills
Depression risks increase with use of anti-addiction pills such as Chantix
2008-04-25 02:54:00 Two years ago, scientists had high hopes for new pills that would help people quit smoking, lose weight and maybe kick other tough addictions like alcohol and cocaine.The pills worked in a novel way, by blocking pleasure centers in the brain that provide the feel-good response from smoking or eating. Now it seems the drugs may block pleasure too well, possibly raising the risk of depression and suicide.Chantix has been linked to dozens of reports of suicides and hundreds of suicidal behaviors."I started to get severely depressed and just going down into that hole ... the one you can't crawl out of," said one patient, whose doctor took her off Chantix after she swallowed too many sleeping pills and other medicines one night.Side effects also plague two other drugs:Rimonabant, an obesity pill sold as Acomplia in Europe, was tied to higher rates of depression and a suicide in a study last month. The maker, Sanofi-Aventis SA, still hopes to win its approval in the Unite... More About: Depression , Addiction , Anti , Pills
Depression self-test: take our free screening test. It takes just a few min
2008-04-23 18:01:00 It took nine years before an M.D. thoroughly evaluated me, assessed my symptoms and ultimately diagnosed my condition as depression. Prior to that I went to a doctor and gave him generic symptoms such as " I just don't feel well" and "I have no energy". The doctor simply prescribed the highly addictive drug Valium and to get some rest. Eventually I did become addicted. Do yourself a favor and take this 12-question self-test. It may help you become aware of some signs and symptoms of depression. It doesn't replace the evaluation by a mental health professional, but it could help you better articulate your symptoms at your next doctor's visit.Click here to take the 12- question depression self-testThe test takes just a few minutes to complete and may help you better identify your next steps. If you don't get the right diagnosis, you won't get the right treatment. For me personally, I turned to drugs and alcohol before I was accuratel... More About: Depression , Free , Test , Screening
Depression self-test: take our free screening test. It takes just a few min
2008-04-23 18:01:00 It took nine years before an M.D. thoroughly evaluated me, assessed my symptoms and ultimately diagnosed my condition as depression. Prior to that I went to a doctor and gave him generic symptoms such as " I just don't feel well" and "I have no energy". The doctor simply prescribed the highly addictive drug Valium and to get some rest. Eventually I did become addicted. Do yourself a favor and take this 12-question self-test. It may help you become aware of some signs and symptoms of depression. It doesn't replace the evaluation by a mental health professional, but it could help you better articulate your symptoms at your next doctor's visit.Click here to take the 12- question depression self-testThe test takes just a few minutes to complete and may help you better identify your next steps. If you don't get the right diagnosis, you won't get the right treatment. For me personally, I turned to drugs and alcohol before I was accuratel... More About: Depression , Free , Test , Screening
Sleep disorders are likely to cause depression and other mental health prob
2008-04-23 07:43:00 The month of May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, sponsored by the National Mental Health Association.Mental Health Awareness Month, observed throughout May in the United States, increases awareness about mental illness such as depression. Mental illness is a significant health concern and, if left untreated, can have serious consequences. Depression is the most common mental illness, and recent studies have demonstrated the link between depression and poor sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) warns those suffering from a sleep disorder to see a sleep specialist for treatment without delay, and to not allow it to escalate into a more serious, and potentially life-threatening, health concern. It is now well established that insomnia is a risk factor for depression.Donna Arand, PhD, clinical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Kettering Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, and research assistant professor at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, ad...
Sleep Problems Are Likely To Cause Depression And Other Mental Health Probl
2008-04-23 07:43:00 The month of May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, sponsored by the National Mental Health Association.Mental Health Awareness Month, observed throughout May in the United States, increases awareness about mental illness such as depression. Mental illness is a significant health concern and, if left untreated, can have serious consequences. Depression is the most common mental illness, and recent studies have demonstrated the link between depression and poor sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) warns those suffering from a sleep disorder to see a sleep specialist for treatment without delay, and to not allow it to escalate into a more serious, and potentially life-threatening, health concern. It is now well established that insomnia is a risk factor for depression.Donna Arand, PhD, clinical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Kettering Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, and research assistant professor at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, ad... More About: Problems
Abilfy may be effective for alcohol addiction and help to treat alcoholics
2008-04-22 16:32:00 Abilify, a drug used to treat the symptoms of psychosis in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may also be a useful medication for individuals who are addicted to alcohol, findings published in Alcohol ism: Clinical & Experimental Research suggest:Aripiprazole, sold in the U.S. under the trade name Abilify, is an atypical antipsychotic that increases the sedative effects of alcohol, while decreasing its euphoric effects, the researchers explain. The activity of aripiprazole on dopamine receptors in the brain - areas thought to have a role in mood and addiction -- suggest the drug would reduce the reinforcing effects of alcohol and thus modulate drinking behavior.Because aripiprazole decreases alcohol's euphoric effects and increases its sedative effects, this drug could be useful in the treatment of heavy drinking. Overall, the findings suggest that "additional research on the effects of aripiprazole on the subjective effects of alcohol is warranted." More About: Addiction , Treat , Effective
A New Earth: Oprah Winfrey's web cast class number 8: the theme is "The Di
2008-04-21 22:03:00 Tonite at 9:00PM Eastern is the eigth class of Oprah Winfrey's webcast based on the book A New Earth : Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. The class is titled The Discovery of Inner Space. It sounds pretty heavy to me. Here are a few of our pre-class assignments: Read the ancient Sufi story on page 223 about the wise man who gave the king a ring inscribed with the words: "This, too, will pass." Those words awakened in the king the awareness of the fleetingness of every situation and brought him the peace of detachment. "Being detached does not mean that you cannot enjoy the good that the world has to offer. In fact, you enjoy it more. … When you are detached, you gain a higher vantage point from which to view the events in your life instead of being trapped inside them. There is a high price to pay for falling below thought through alcohol or drugs: Unconsciousness "If you are not spending all of your waking life in discontent, worry, anxiety, depressio... More About: Cast , Theme , Class
CBS's Sixty-minutes: gastric bypass surgery can cure not only obesity but a
2008-04-21 01:13:00 Tonite's episode of CBS's Sixty -minutes featured a fascinating segment about gastric bypass surgery to treat obesity. Obesity and unwanted weight gain is a serious illness for depression patients. Antidepressants such as Lexapro and Zyprexa can cause unwanted weight gain putting the patient at higher risk for Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and sleep apnea. According to the segment narrated by Lesley Stahl:An operation performed primarily to reduce weight in the obese has some startlingly positive side effects. Gastric bypass surgery can send type 2 diabetes into complete remission, in some cases almost instantly. It can also alleviate sleep apnea, common among obese patients, which causes them to intermittently stop breathing in their sleep. Studies also suggest gastric bypass patients greatly reduce their risks from certain obesity-related cancers, according to the American Cancer SocietyAnother beneficial side effect of the procedure may have more to do w... More About: Gastric Bypass , Surgery , Minutes
Pain and depression are known as a symptom cluster-Part I
2008-04-20 20:03:00 Many depression patients suffer from chronic pain. Many chronic pain patients are depressed. Pain often is seen concurrently with depression and fatigue such that the 3 are referred to as a symptom cluster. According to Bill H. McCarberg, MD, Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor, University of California, San Diego, and Founder, Chronic Pain Management Program, Kaiser Permanente, San Diego, CaliforniaAnxiety and insomnia are seen with chronic pain. Depression , anxiety, and insomnia are also seen with substance abuse in the chronic pain patient. substance abuse is a diagnosis and not a symptom and has a whole variety of symptoms that come along with it; for example, inappropriate drug-taking behavior. But if you're just looking for a symptom complex associated with chronic pain, then anxiety and insomnia would be very prominent. If you have fatigue, the fatigue relates to the pain itself, so you can have fatigue without insomnia and you can have fatigue related to the insomnia.Sleep... More About: Part , Cluster
New obesity treatment VBLOC (Vagal Blocking for Obesity Control). A pacemak
2008-04-20 01:56:00 Depression and obesity often go hand in glove together. Current obesity therapies include gastric bypass surgery or laparoscopic banding. Both therapies involve potentially dangerous surgery, alter normal anatomy to reduce stomach size and can have many unwanted side effects. Researchers are testing a new weight-loss therapy that uses electronic impulses to confuse the brain signals that tell the stomach it is hungry. It involves the use of a pacemaker-like device that sends low power electrical signals that block the vagal nerve.The vagus nerve has a number of different functions in the control and function of the gastrointestinal system. It is the nerve that allows communication between the brain and our digestive system. It not only plays a role in stomach function and control of digestive juices, but it also plays a role in the sensation or hunger and fullness. The vagus nerve is the longest of the cranial nerve. Its name is derived from Latin meaning "wandering&q... More About: Obesity , Treatment , Control
Major depression and post traumatic stress disorder suffered by 20% of US t
2008-04-19 01:21:00 A new and alarming study was released today by The Rand Corporation about the mental health of our brave U.S. troops serving in Iraqi and Afghanistan:Roughly one in five U.S. troops is suffering from major depression or post-traumatic stress from serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and an equal number have suffered brain injuries, a new study estimates. Only about half of them have sought treatment, says the study released Thursday by the Rand Corp. "There is a major health crisis facing those men and women who have served our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Terri Tanielian, the project's co-leader and a researcher at the non-profit Rand. "Unless they receive appropriate and effective care for these mental health conditions, there will be long-term consequences for them and for the nation," she said in a statement. The 500-page study is the first large-scale, private assessment of its kind — including a survey of 1,965 service members across the country, from... More About: Depression , Post , Stress , Post Traumatic Stress Disorder , Major
Lyrica Reduced Pain of Fibromyalgia in Patients Regardless of Symptoms of A
2008-04-18 01:05:00 This new study was released today. Lyrica reduced pain of fibromyalgia in patients regardless of whether they experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression at the beginning of the study, according to a pooled analysis presented today at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting. The analysis, which looked at data pooled from previous clinical trials, also showed that patients’ self-reported improvements were more closely associated with improvements in pain and sleep than with improvements in fatigue or symptoms of anxiety or depression. Fibromyalgia is the most common, chronic widespread pain condition in the United States and is thought to result from neurological changes in how patients perceive pain. Fibromyalgia is usually accompanied by poor sleep, stiffness and fatigue.“The data showed that Lyrica reduced fibromyalgia pain, and alleviating that pain was associated with patients’ overall feeling of well-being,” said Dr. Lesley Arnold, one of the study’s ... More About: Pain , Patients , Symptoms
Fibromyalgia and chonic fatique syndrome: help for living with these debili
2008-04-17 02:42:00 Many depressed patients also suffer from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are considered separate but related disorders. They share a common symptom -- severe fatigue that greatly interferes with people's lives. Lifestyle changes and the right medications can help ease fatigue and restless sleep from fibromyalgia. Improving a patient's sleep is an important part of easing fibromyalgia fatigue, experts have told WebMD. "We know from research that sleep improves mood, pain, and in general how people feel during the day. Regardless of the reasons for the chronic fatigue, if we can get some control over quality of sleep, we're likely to see positive benefits to mood, fatigue, concentration." Steven Berney, MD, chief of rheumatology at Temple University Health System in Philadelphia, agrees. "In fibromyalgia, all treatments are geared toward helping people sleep better," he tells WebMD. "If we can improve th... More About: Living , Syndrome
Virginia Tech marks one year anniversary of the murders and then suicide by
2008-04-16 18:49:00 Beginning at midnight last night, Virginia Tech marked the shooting anniversary. The darkness was broken by the flickering of a white candle, lit at the stroke of midnight. Soft weeping and the solemn strains of "Taps" were all that broke the silence of more than a thousand people gathered around the 32 memorial stones honoring the dead. I will never forget that day and the weeks that followed that preventable tragedy.It has been exactly one year since a mentally ill student killed 32 people and himself in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. And while this close-knit campus has worked hard to move on, the anniversary of the killings has left many dealing with depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome and other mental health issues.A ceremony honoring the lives of those who perished during Seung-Hui Cho's rampage was planned for later in the morning in front of the memorial, where the candle lit at midnight will continue burning for 24 hours.... More About: Anniversary , Virginia Tech , Suicide
Virginia Tech student commits suicide after falling into depression as a re
2008-04-16 03:09:00 The one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre by Seung Hui Cho was a very sad day for me. I was very depressed the week of the actual murders. Despite countless warnings to the University, I was shocked to learn that another Virginia Tech student committed suicide as a result of severe depression following last year's massacre:Daniel Kim wasn't a victim of last year's massacre that left 32 students and professors dead. However he committed suicide eight months later, after falling into a deep depression. The Korean-American, Kim feared that classmates might mistake him for shooter Seung-Hui Cho. One of Kim's friends from another state had e-mailed the Virginia Tech health center with the subject line: "Emergency About Suicidal Student ." In late October, Kim revealed his darkest thoughts. He actually thought about purchasing a gun. Then, on December 9, more than a month after police checked on Kim, his sister, Jeannette, got an urgent call from ho... More About: Depression
A New Earth: Oprah's web cast class number 7-the theme is "Know Thyself"
More articles from this author:2008-04-14 23:53:00 Tonite at 9:00 PM Eastern time is class 7 of Oprah Winfrey's web cast based on the book A New Earth . The lessons from last week class are proving very difficult for me to execute in real life. We learned how to break free from our addiction to negativity. Now, we are supposed to take that freedom a step further. Here is our pre-class homework: "You are not the ego, so when you become aware of the ego in you, it does not mean you know who you are—it means you know who you are not. But it is through knowing who you are not that the greatest obstacle to truly knowing yourself is removed""Your sense of who you are determines what you perceive as your needs and what matters to you in life—and whatever matters to you will have the power to upset and disturb you. You can use this as a criterion to find out how deeply you know yourself. … So you may want to ask yourself the question: What are the things that upset and disturb me?"COMMENT: I think I still nee... More About: Cast , Theme , Class , Number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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