Mental health is really about how we think and feel about ourselves and the world around us, and about how we behave and interact with others in our day to day lives. It isn’t easy to define exactly what it means to have good mental health as people will interpret what it means to be mentally healthy in different ways. On the other hand, there are some signs and symptoms that can indicate when someone has a mental health problem, when their mental functions are not performing as well as they could, and we see evidence of alternations in their thinking and behaviour.Take depression for example, even though there is no set pattern and each person will be affected differently; there are some simple clues that we can look out for.What it means to be depressedDepression is a lot more than feeling a bit fed up and down in the dumps, which is something we all experience from time to time and is a natural part of the ups and downs of life. To be clinically depressed means that we cannot just shake off our low mood and get on with our lives, the depression persists and starts to interfere with our normal daily routines and we can no longer enjoy activities and pastimes that used to be pleasurable.o We may find it hard to get up in the morning to go to work or school, and we may have difficulty getting to sleep at night and when we do get to sleep, our sleep might be disturbedo Our relationships with family, friends and work colleagues can suffer and our self esteem may be low and we don’t feel good enougho We could find ourselves worrying constantly and feeling anxious and panicky for no particular reasono Our eating patterns can change and we could see fluctuations in our weight as we may eat a lot more or lose our appetiteo Maybe we are tearful and cry a lot, or we may find we cannot get in touch with our emotions and feel numb and unable to express our emotiono Some of us may become more aggressive and hostile or irritable for no real reasono Life may seem too difficult and so we struggle to cope with even minor taskso We may feel guilty and worthy of blame and punishmento Our memory and concentration might not be as good as it was and we find it more and more difficult to make decisionso Other physical symptoms such as headaches, and various other aches and pains may convince us that we have something else wrong with usRegardless of the different ways that some of these symptoms can affect us, the main factors that point to depression are the same. Major depression is likely to be diagnosed if the symptoms of depression have persisted for more than two weeks accompanied by low moods and a lack of pleasure in pursuits that were once enjoyed and the symptoms are severe enough to interfere with normal daily routines and activities.Who gets depressed?No one knows why some people become depressed and not others and there is no single known cause of depression either. Depressive episodes can be triggered by biochemical, genetic, psychological, environmental and social factors or a combination of these. What is known is that certain groups of people appear more at risk of developing depression than others. These include the long term sick and disabled, those in poor living conditions, those with a history of depression in the family, the homeless, ethnic minorities and people in prison. Sometimes life circumstances can trigger an episode of depression such as redundancy, retirement, divorce, bereavement, problems at work or financial difficulties.However, no one is immune to depression and someone can develop a depressive disorder even if they are not considered at greater risk. The reality is that any kind of mental health problem and depression can strike any one of us at any time of our lives.Getting well againOne of the biggest barriers to recovery for someone suffering from depression or indeed any mental health problem is a reluctance to seek help. Many people are afraid of admitting that they cannot cope and so try and deal with it on their own but the symptoms are unlikely to just disappear and will continue possibly for years without appropriate help and treatment.Any kind of mental health problem can be an intensely isolating experience as the individual concerned cannot help how they are feeling so the understanding and support of family and friends can be of enormous help for someone struggling to cope with their depression. However, the most important thing to remember is that depression is treatable and it is also fairly common.Your doctor is the best person to advise you on what treatment options are available as he or she will be able to make full medical assessment in order to obtain a correct diagnosis and can take into account any other contributory factors that might need dealt with. Usually, treatment will consist of medication and perhaps some form of talking therapy or a combination of both.

If you have to buy a gift for someone, you might start wondering how to go about. Would the other person like your present? What if he already has the item you have chosen as a present for him? Wish you could think of a gift that would stand out. Such thought haunt you.Gift with a Difference – The Experience GiftThis is one gift that no one will ever dislike. You are presenting an experience, not a normal material gift. Exceptional experiences in life are remembered for a long time. The concept of this kind of gift involves giving happiness through a unique experience which could involve exciting moments or doing something which your loved one always wanted to do but could not do so for any reason, etc. Some examples of experience or adventure gifts are hot air balloon flights, Mediterranean cruise in a luxury liner, paragliding, etc.Different Kinds of Adventure Gifts These kinds of gifts are presented in the form of gift vouchers. If thrill is the gift you would like to present, then how about blood rushing acts like bungee jumping, or indoor space diving experience? There are many more adventurous experiences one can think of.Women may prefer romantic dinner on a Caribbean cruise on Valentine’s Day, biplane flights or over a city, even spa packages. For younger generation, there are experience gifts like go-karting.Gifts for all You can find adventure gifts for any age and any occasion. Thus, you can look for experience gifts that suit Valentine’s Day, Father’ Day, Mother’s Day, Anniversary, Birthday, etc. Experience gift is one of the best ways to express your feelings towards the other person(s). While choosing a gift experience, keep the health status of the recipient in mind so as not to present an experience that he cannot enjoy.Where Can You Find Such Gifts You will find a number of companies that offer thrill based gifts on the internet. Look for a site that appeals to your requirements, e.g. it would be pointless to buy an experience gift in USA for someone living in Australia, unless it includes travel to USA.Buying such gifts on line is quite easy. Generally, you have to enroll as a member by registering on line. Scan the offers and add the one you like to your cart. Review all the experience based gifts you have selected, and proceed to make the payment – generally done through a credit card. Upon confirmation, the company will communicate with you or the recipient to arrange the event(s).One thing you may like to take note of is to look for a possibility of exchanging the chosen gift with another gift – in case the recipient wishes to do so.Experience gift is an unparalleled present. Make it more novel by opting to buy it from a sites that is committed to a social cause. That way you know that not only are you making the receiver of the gift happy, but you are also doing your bit for the betterment of the community.

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When an exercise regime consists of more than just jogging, people will at some point want to invest in proper equipment. The kind of equipment they buy depends on several factors like how much they can afford to spend, the quality of the equipment and what purpose will it serve as part of their exercise program.Fitness equipment can range anywhere between 50 to 5000 dollars. Purchasing gym equipment depends mostly on commitment to exercise, budget and what ones typical workout routine is. Some people may be satisfied by just purchasing an exercise ball while others might require a fully equipped home gym.For those who are looking primarily to tone their body and build muscle, a set of free weights and a good quality bar is ideal. One can easily do chin and pull-ups, some floor exercises and basic weight training to get a satisfying and varied workout.It is important to think long term when purchasing fitness equipment. Try to buy equipment that is reliable and which will last you more than a few years. For example if you are looking for an exercise to do some spinning and get a great cardio workout in the process, try buying a bike that is solid and which will last longer.An important thing to keep in mind is how much space you have at home right now as well as expect to in the future to store this fitness equipment. A simple machine such as a cycle occupies only 10 square feet. However, a treadmill or a multi-station weight machine may occupy anywhere between 30 to a 100 square feet.If you are just starting out, then it is always recommended to try out different kinds of equipment made by various manufacturers so that you can find one that suits your routine and likes. Every individual has their own unique taste even in the kind of gym equipment they purchase.It is important to get equipment that can be adjusted to suit your size and body type. Try to get equipment that can adjusted in terms of length, weight etc. so that it can be used by more than one person at home. Adjustable equipment will also be advantageous over time if you want to increase the strength and endurance of your workout.Knowing how to use fitness equipment safely is a must, especially in order to avoid injury. Most multi-station fitness equipment come with the appropriate safety features. Do not be swayed by what sales people commonly suggest and choose equipment that will suit you needs instead.It is quite normal to experience mild discomfort when one is beginning or getting back to an exercise routine initially but if you continue to suffer extreme pain that means that you are either not doing something correctly or need to be guided in the proper technique of using the equipment.One needs to feel comfortable with the equipment they use. For example tread mills should come with adjustable handle bars according to ones height. Similarly, weight machines should have comfortable handlebars and a chair so that one doesn’t strain their back or neck muscles while using them.Do not hesitate to ask several questions or shop around till you find fitness equipment that you feel is suitable for your exercise needs.