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4 ways to get rid of that monster called depression
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Peace and happiness ARE possible. These tips may just be the help you have been searching for. - photo by Gary and Joy Lundberg
Its important to understand what depression is. Were not talking about the sad feeling you have for a day, a week, or even a month. Were talking about clinical depression the kind that just wont go away no matter how positive you try to be. Many have it and dont recognize it for what it is. They simply think they are a flawed person of no value, and that their life was never meant to be happy. This illness afflicts both men and women.

If this is you, you need to know that this isnt the kind of funk you can pull out of by yourself. Like a cancer growing in the body, this type of depression (also called MDD major depressive disorder) needs medical and emotional help. Like any other illness, its nothing to be ashamed of. In plain and simple terms, its a terrible sickness that is ruining your life, and must be addressed -- not hidden from those who can help you.

Here are a few steps you can take to start healing:

1. Recognize the symptoms

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms of depression may include the following:

  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
  • Fatigue and decreased energy
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness
  • Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
  • Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
  • Irritability, restlessness
  • Loss of interest in activities or hobbies that were once pleasurable, including sex
  • Overeating or loss of appetite
  • Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease, even with treatment
  • Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" feelings
  • Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
If you have five or more of these symptoms, you most likely have MDD.

2. Talk to your loved ones

You may be trying to hide your symptoms from those you love by faking being happy, but inside youre deeply sad and afraid. Your spouse, first of all, needs to know what youre experiencing. Have a frank talk with him or her. A spouse needs to know the depth of what youre feeling in order to help you.

Jennifer (not her real name), who was afflicted with MDD, told about finally talking to her husband concerning her illness. She said, It wasnt easy to tell him, for fear that he would either laugh or confirm my doubts about my worth. Instead, he was understanding and felt bad that Id struggled so much.

Talking to a close friend is also advisable. This needs to be someone you can trust; someone you know loves and cares about you. Jennifer also opened up to her closest friend. This friend understood the symptoms of depression and encouraged her to learn all she could about it, which led Jennifer to seek professional help.

If you are the spouse or friend, dont think a simple positive attitude statement can cheer up your suffering mate or friend. That will only make it worse. Understanding is what is needed.

3. Make an appointment with a well-respected therapist

When you call for an appointment, be sure to ask if this person is experienced in helping those with clinical depression or MDD. This theripist will usually know a psychiatrist or other medical doctor qualified to prescribe the medication you may need. Because MDD is usually caused by a chemical imbalance, getting those chemicals back in balance through medication can make all the difference.

Having a therapist, along with a medical doctor, will provide the best possible outcome. To help you find the best therapist for you, "Psychology Today" offers help here.

4. Do not be ashamed of your illness

Shame has the power to prevent you from seeking the help you need. If you will keep in mind that this illness is nothing to be ashamed of, you can confidently seek the help you need. Keep in mind that if this were diabetes or some other serious illness, you would never hesitate to seek medical help. This is every bit as important to your mental and physical well-being.

You can overcome your depression and live a genuinely happy life. These steps may be the answer you have been seeking to lead you to a full recovery. Life is too good to miss out on. May you find joy in your journey.
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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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