Ignite your potential
Today is NATIONAL DEPRESSION SCREENING DAY where all around the nation, people can be screened.
MAIN SYMPTOMS are having at least two of the following for at least two weeks:
Fatigue
tiredness, lack of energy
Depressed mood
your feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and helplessness that don’t seem to go away
Anhedonia
loss of pleasure and enjoyment in activities that were once enjoyable
OTHER SYMPTOMS include
Loss of confidence and/or low self-esteem
you feel worthless or guilty
This year, the Screening for Mental Health organization is promoting the Depression Screening Day on October 11, 2007. There are screenings in places all over the United States. There is a depression screening test that you can currently take online.
Some General Depression Statistics
People of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyles, and nationalities suffer from major depression, with a few exceptions.
In any given year, about seven percent – between 13 million and 14 million people will experience a depressive disorder.
Of those who develop depression, only about 20 percent will receive adequate treatment.
Ultra-runner Tim Borland is running 63 marathons in 63 days in order to raise funds and awareness for the A-T Children’s Project in their quest for a cure or life-improving therapies for ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). A-T is a rare, neurodegenerative disease that affects children, giving them the combined symptoms of cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and cancer. Children with A-T — born seemingly healthy — are usually dependent upon wheelchairs by the age of 10 and often do not survive their teens.
This is the an excellent commencement speech that was given by Bill Gates at the Harvard Graduation.
Bill Gates Commencement Speech
One of the elements that stuck with me was the part where he had addressed inequities with medical care. He states, “We [Bill and Melinda Gates] had just assumed that if millions of children were dying every day and they could be saved, the world would make it a priority to discover and deliver medicines to save them. But it did not….How could the world let these children die? The answer is simple and harsh. The market did not reward saving the lives of these children, and governments don’t subsidize.”
Part of the way I relax and manage stress is by taking short, fun day excursions. No matter where you live, there are great areas to visit. Recently I took a trip with my boyfriend to the Autry National Center Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, California. We took about two hours to explore the museum.
These were the great highlights:
Learning that Gene Autry was the singing cowboy
Saw the various awards including the Platinum Columbia record that Gene Autry won.
Seeing the the Gene Autry Guitar
This is one of my favorite shows on the discovery channel! Bear Grylls, a former British army special forces unit officer, takes you on an survivor adventure from the Florida Everglades to the Scotland Cairongornes. His amazing display of survival skills can leave you in awe. Bear shows how nature can give clues to finding which way is north or south, as well as how to make shelter. Sometimes the scenes are quite graphic and the foods he has to eat are disgusting. This show captivates you on all levels because he shows you that the impossible can be done. Bear not only emphasizes the physical aspects, but the mental aspects as well. In order to survive, one needs endurance, mental stamina, mental strength, will-power, self-determination, perseverance, courage, and positive thinking.
SPOILER WARNING!!!
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This is a documentary by the famous Michael Moore, who won an Oscar for Farenheit 9/11. Although the documentary shows one person’s point of view, I believe that’s what makes it a great documentary. He goes through various points both seriously and with humor. I was inspired to write about the various issues brought about from this remarkable documentary.
