Depression is a growing problem that causes problems in every area of people’s lives. The World Health Organization estimates that there are more than 100 million people in the world who suffer with depression and many of these are not receiving the proper treatment, if any at all.
Medications are the most common way to treat depression and in some cases it can be effective. However, there are many people who don’t respond well to medications and others who don’t want to take anything at all. Studies show that about one-third of patients will still remain depressed even while on medication.
Cognitive therapy has been known to help some people who are depressed. This type of therapy helps people to recognize the negative thinking that is fueling their depression and correct their false beliefs through realistic thinking.
Other types of treatment for depression include acupuncture, exercise programs, herbal medicines and relaxation therapy. These have limited success.
In studies done at the University of California and Duke Riverside Medical Centre, researchers have discovered a new treatment that has the potential to help people who don’t respond to medications. This treatment is low-cost, less time-consuming, has no stigma, carries no side effects and has proven effective. The treatment is named PAI for Positive Activity Interventions and it is based on the differences between happy and unhappy people. It teaches people how to practice optimism, be thankful, meditate on positive feelings and perform acts of kindness. They are still doing research but the results are very promising. You can read about the study at the following link…. http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/08/01/positive-activities-help-to-relieve-depression/28223.html (sorry clicking on the link doesn’t work but you can copy and paste it)
From my own personal experience, I can say that positive thinking does work. I was depressed for most of my life and looked at life with a negative perspective. Medications helped me stay balanced for many years but I was still extremely unhappy. I never expected anything good to happen in my life and had little hope for the future. When I started practising positive thinking, I was able to see life from a different perspective and have developed a habit of being positive. This has built my confidence and increased my esteem and led to the creation of my self-esteem project, I M Confident Niagara Canada. Now I am able to help others develop their esteem through workshops, Confidence Coaching and written materials.
If you are feeling depressed, work hard at becoming more positive. Visit my website for more information http://www.imconfident.com.
imconfident 
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