7 Common Causes Of Anxiety And Depression

Certain lifestyle choices of experiences, however, can contribute to – or directly cause – depression and anxiety. The condition may be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term); it all depends on the “mix” we discussed earlier; knowing this is a source of power, as we can counteract some of the things that instigate the conditions.

HERE ARE 7 COMMON LIFESTYLE CAUSES OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY:

1. SUBSTANCE ABUSE

People abuse substances such as recreational drugs and alcohol for a number of reasons. Substance abuse is a habit that may form at any time, including childhood and teenage years.

Drugs and alcohol “rewire” the brain’s neurochemistry; disrupting normal communication between neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the brain and body’s “communication chemicals” that control every physical and psychological experience.

Individuals susceptible to depression and anxiety who engage in drug use are more likely to develop mental illness.

2. OVERWORKING

Becoming exhausted because of too much of a heavy workload causes stress reactions within the body. Most people today concede that they’re at least moderately impacted by stress caused from work.

When the brain is exposed to chronic stress, it’s delicate chemical balance is interrupted. Again, those individuals prone to anxiety and depression for whatever reason – and are exposed to long-term stress – are prone to anxiety and depression.

3. GRIEF AND TRAUMA

A common talking point in the news is the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in military members. Being a witness or victim of violence of any kind can trigger a biological reaction that evolves into full-blown anxiety and depression.

Feelings of grief following the death of a loved one or friend, though uncomfortable, can serve as a good healer. However, prolonged grief in susceptible demographics can cause mental health issues.

4. HEALTH CONDITIONS

People diagnosed with untreatable health conditions may be at an increased risk of becoming depressed. Age-related illnesses or diagnoses of terminable condition such as Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, or cancer often induce feelings of panic and helplessness; of course, prolonged exposure to these feelings can manifest into anxiety and depression.

It is also worth mentioning that the changes of an anxiety/depression diagnosis increases with age, per WebMD.

5. SUDDEN AND STRESSFUL CHANGES

During the infamous Wall Street Crash of 1929, which led to the loss of billions of dollars and laid the foundation for the Great Depression, 23,000 people committed suicide – at the time, the highest number of suicides ever in one year.

While the number of people who killed themselves due to anxiety and depression cannot be ascertained; it is fair to assume that the mental illness had played a role.

6. POOR SELF-IMAGE

Finding accurate statistics and facts people with low self-image (self-esteem) is quite difficult. Across sources, a few common outliers:

– Females are more likely than males to have self-esteem issues

– People with self-esteem problems are more likely to engage in behaviors considered a health risk (smoking, alcohol and substance abuse, poor diet)

– There is a correlation between negative self-image and suicide

A continually negative picture of oneself can lead to obsessive thought patterns; about appearance, money, reputation, and so on. In a worst case scenario, the brain’s neurochemistry is altered, producing depressive and anxious symptoms or conditions.

7. ISOLATION OR REJECTION

As human beings are naturally social creatures, we require social interaction to function properly. Human beings also long for intimacy; another person to care for, love, and support them.

Isolation, voluntary or involuntary separation from other human beings; and rejection, refusal of others to accept or consider you as part of something, are counterintuitive to the brain’s innate social cognitive functions. As a result, the brain adopts opposing thought processes, and forms neural networks, that disturb it’s natural chemistry.

In short, isolation and/or rejection can lead to a neurochemical imbalance that manifests into anxiety and depression.

Finally…

Should you or someone you know potentially suffer from an anxiety or depression-related illness, there are a variety of effective treatment options available.

Therapists, support groups, medical professionals, and many others are there to help resolve the issue.

In other words, you are not alone. Don’t be afraid to get help!

Science Explains How Fasting Helps You Lose Weight And Strengthen Your Body

Of course not eating anything is going to reduce your calorie intake and help you lose weight, but you might be amazed to learn how fasting can help you not only lose weight, but also rebuild and strengthen your body.

All of us fast for some length of time. The type of fast that you are most familiar with is the one that you do overnight while you sleep. This is why our morning meal is called ‘breakfast,’ because we are breaking our fast from the previous night. Some people fast for spiritual reasons, for example, during the season of Lent or during Ramadan.

In this article, we will look at the types of fasting programs that you can try, the science behind why fasting helps you see positive body changes, and give you some guidance for what type of fasting might be best for you.

HERE’S HOW FASTING HELPS YOU LOSE WEIGHT, REBUILD, AND STRENGTHEN YOUR BODY

Consult your wellness professional prior to starting a program of fasting, especially if you are pregnant or nursing or if you have certain conditions like anemia, diabetes, or have adrenal fatigue.

RESEARCH SHOWS WHY FASTING HELPS REBUILD AND STRENGTHEN YOUR BODY

Fasting not only helps to lose weight, but helps our body to conserve the energy that it would normally be using for digesting food and lets us use that energy toward healing when we are sick or injured instead.

WHEN ANIMALS ARE INJURED, THEY GO TO A SOURCE OF WATER AND STAY NEAR IT UNTIL THEY ARE HEALED RATHER THAN CONTINUING TO SEEK FOOD.

Restricting our calorie intake during illness is a way to help our bodies rebuild themselves. Research on mice who were given a program of fasting showed that the mice that were fasting had slower growth of cancerous tumors. This is an amazing result, but the study found that not only could a fasting program slow tumor growth, but that it was also ‘effective at suppressing tumorigenesis in mice genetically predestined to tumor development.’ Mice that were more likely to develop tumors due to mutated genes were less likely to develop them when they were on a program of fasting.

A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at short-term modified alternate-day fasting as a new dietary strategy for weight loss and for heart health protection for adults that were overweight or obese. Over a 10 week study period, the researchers found that after 8 weeks, participants had not only lost weight, but they had lost body fat percentage as well. In addition to the weight loss, the participants in the study had decreased their total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triacylglycerol concentrations. They also had lower systolic blood pressure.

WHAT TYPE OF FASTING PROGRAM SHOULD YOU TRY?


* Juice fast – This type of fasting program is a liquid-based diet where you get all of your nutritional needs from drinking only juice and avoiding solid foods.

* Alternate day fasting – This is a 24 hour period of not eating, followed by a 24 hour period where you are allowed to eat regular meals

* 16-hour – Choose any 8 hour time frame for eating during the day and the other 16 hours, avoid any caloric intake. For example you might choose 9:00am to 5:00pm for your eating hours, which means that you should no eat prior to 9:00am or after 5:00pm.

* 20-hour – A 20 hour fasting program is similar to the 16-hour program except that your window for eating is shortened to a 4 hour time frame.

* Multiple day – Fasting for multiple days can be the most challenging program and it requires some additional preparation. People who fast for more than 24 hours prepare by starting with a juice fast for at least 24 hours first. It is possible for human beings to go 7 days or longer (many people have completed 40 day water fasts) with only water without severe health effects.

If you select a fasting program to try, plan to stick with it for a period of 2 weeks at a minimum unless you are experiencing health problems as a result. This will allow your body to learn to use up stored fat during the times that you are fasting.

Your weight loss, and other body needs may differ from those of another person depending on your health goals. For example, it may be important for you to consume protein following a workout to build muscle, so you may want to make sure that your fasting program does not interfere with your training. Consult a nutritional specialist if you have concerns about what will work best for you.

RESEARCH SHOWS WHY YOU WON’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT EATING TOO MUCH AFTER FASTING

Research published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition tells us how fasting is not going to lead to an all out calorie splurge after we have gone for a period of time without food, even if we are exercising.

The study of alternate day fasting and cardiovascular exercise found that participants who did 25 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio three times per week were actually less likely to cheat on days that they were not allowed to eat than if they were not following intermittent fasting.

Source